Mandelson Sacked as UK Ambassador to US Over Epstein Links

Peter Mandelson has been dismissed as Britain’s ambassador to the United States after newly leaked emails revealed the depth of his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Foreign minister Stephen Doughty told MPs the correspondence showed Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was «materially different from that known at the time of his appointment» last year. The emails also suggested Mandelson believed Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged.

The revelations prompted swift backlash in Westminster. Conservative shadow minister Neil O’Brien called it «an extraordinary error of judgement by this prime minister,» while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir Starmer of weakness for defending Mandelson just a day earlier.

Labour MP Andy McDonald welcomed the sacking but urged an inquiry into how the appointment was cleared. Committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry said her attempts to scrutinise Mandelson had been blocked.

The scandal escalated after a birthday message surfaced in which Mandelson described Epstein as his «best pal» and expressed «love» for him. Mandelson later admitted the comments were «embarrassing» and said he deeply regretted maintaining contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for child sex offences.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry has denied reports that it intends to hand over 57 helicopters to Afghanistan’s current authorities.