He is Britain’s ambassador to the United States, a former deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom, no less.
He has been a titan of British politics for decades and is the sharpest of operators.
Yet Peter Mandelson has been unable to explain why he counted the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as his “best pal”.
Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual acts.
“Wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal!” Lord Mandelson wrote in Epstein’s 50th birthday book in 2003.
The handwritten words were accompanied by a snap of a dressing-gown-clad Mandelson with Epstein.
Lord Mandelson was one of many contributors to the book, which has been made public for the first time after being published by a congressional committee in Washington.
It was compiled by Epstein’s girlfriend and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, three years before allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Epstein became public.
At the very least, there is the question of judgement for Lord Mandelson.
The victims of Epstein’s abuse have said repeatedly that anyone close to him would have been fully aware of his behaviour.
While that is unprovable, it is deeply uncomfortable for anyone close to him, and even more so for those who contributed to the birthday book.
The book is hard to read. For page after page, the content is at times graphically sexual.
It contains stories, anecdotes and boasts from friends discussing their sexual escapades with Epstein.
Some of the images are disturbing, including hand-drawn images of Epstein being massaged by three young-looking women on a beach and images of him with girls – their faces blacked out by the US congressional committee which released the book.
‘She left screaming’
One note, from an unknown contributor, reads: “I was porking some girl in bed and Jeff brings in the mains to make beef. She left screaming and never came back.”
It continues: “We’re both in bed porking some girls and I said what do you think, while he’s shoving penicillin down my throat.”
Elsewhere in the book, the full note from Lord Mandelson, accompanied by photos, reads: “Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call ‘mysterious’ parachuted into my life…
“You would spend many hours just waiting for him to turn up. And often, no sooner were you getting used to having him around, you would suddenly be alone… again leaving you with some ‘interesting’ friends to entertain instead… [this caption is accompanied by a photo of two unidentified women].
It continues: “Or just some dogs to keep you company (he wasn’t always so keen on them). But then he would parachute back in… very occasionally, taking you by surprise in some far-off places [this caption accompanied with a whiskey label with Mandelson’s name on it]… or in one of his glorious homes he likes to share with his friends (yum yum). But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal!”
In May, Sky News asked Lord Mandelson about his relationship with Mr Epstein.
“I’m not answering any questions about him,” he told Sky’s James Matthews. “My knowledge of him is something that I regret. I wish I’d never met him in the first place.”
“Why did you have an association with him?” he was asked.
“Why did many people meet him? He was a prolific networker, and I wish I never met him in the first place,” Mandelson said.
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Sources have told Sky News the ambassador was unhappy with our questions. Notably, Sky was not invited to briefings with the embassy for a few months, and engagement with staff there was more challenging.
In February, as he prepared to become the new ambassador, the Financial Times asked Lord Mandelson about his relationship with Epstein.
“I regret ever meeting him or being introduced to him by his partner Ghislaine Maxwell,” he told the paper.
“I regret even more the hurt he caused to many young women. I’m not going to go into this. It’s an FT obsession, and frankly, you can all f*ck off. OK?”
Mandelson has never been accused of any sexual impropriety by any of the Epstein victims.
No comment
He has not made any fresh comments on the notes in the book, but a spokesperson for the British Embassy in Washington had no comment, only referring me to the words from the ambassador in May.
In London, the prime minister’s spokesperson was asked if Sir Keir Starmer had spoken to Mandelson since the emergence of the letter.
“No, he’s now gotten this statement, and it is a matter of public record. He is focused on delivering the state visit.”
The spokesperson added: “I can only refer to the statement the ambassador himself made… I have nothing to add other than what the ambassador has already said about the previous relationship with Epstein… he is focused on the state visit.”
More from Sky:
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Handwriting expert debunks Trump’s signature denial
Explainer: What is in the ‘birthday files’?
It’s also not clear if Sir Keir and Number 10 officials were aware of the extent of the ties between Mandelson and Epstein. If they were, that raises serious questions about their own judgement.
That state visit, next week, is now complicated by this news. The degrees of separation for three key characters involved in the visit are deeply awkward.
US President Donald Trump seems increasingly closely associated with Epstein, with the publication of the letter in the book purported to be from him. Mr Trump continues to claim the letter is a fake.
Lord Mandelson’s association now appears to have been much closer than previously known.
The King’s brother, Prince Andrew, also had an association with Epstein and Maxwell that is well documented. He reached an out-of-court settlement with one Epstein victim who accused Andrew of sexual impropriety. He denies any wrongdoing.
Deeply personal scandal
Lord Mandelson is spearheading Britain’s diplomatic and trade relationship with the United States. He has put the UK in a uniquely good position since he became ambassador at the start of the year.
The state visit will form a key part of the effort to deepen relations with the Trump administration.
There is an expectation of new trade, tech and AI announcements between the president and the prime minister next week.
Lord Mandelson is a master of spin and strategy. He and his advisors will be hoping this deeply personal scandal doesn’t derail diplomatic progress.
But there remains a huge disconnect between his assertion that “my knowledge of him is something that I regret” and this new revelation that Epstein was his “best pal”.
