How the Epstein files hit the UK prime minister and could lead to his resignation
The United Kingdom is facing a scandal over the appearance of Lord Peter Mandelson in the Epstein files. Mandelson has announced his resignation from the House of Lords and has also renounced his membership in the Labour Party.
However, the scandal surrounding the Epstein files has grown into a broader crisis of trust in the leadership of the Labour Party.
For Prime Minister Keir Starmer, this is no longer merely a matter of one failed personnel decision, but a test of his ability to control the government.
Read more in the article by Uliana Krychkovska, a European Pravda journalist: A 'black swan' for Starmer: will the Epstein case lead to the resignation of the UK prime minister?
Peter Mandelson is one of the most influential and at the same time most controversial figures in the modern history of the Labour Party. He began his political career in the 1980s and for decades remained a key strategist for Labour.
His political career was regularly accompanied by scandals, and in December 2024 UK Prime Minister Starmer appointed Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. At the time, Downing Street hoped that his extensive connections in big business and international politics would help build stable relations with the new administration of Donald Trump.
At the same time, information about Mandelson’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, particularly the fact that he continued to maintain contact with the financier even after Epstein’s conviction in 2008, was already known at the time of the appointment.
For this reason, the appointment drew criticism from the opposition and human rights advocates.
Nevertheless, the government insisted that all circumstances had been taken into account.
The situation changed in September 2025, when Mandelson was dismissed from his post – just after a previous wave of Epstein file publications.
As Downing Street clarified, new information had emerged about the depth of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, including emails in which the British politician expressed support for the financier, precisely during the period when Epstein was facing accusations of sexual crimes.
The latest package of documents released by the US Department of Justice at the beginning of 2026 shed new light on the nature and duration of contacts between Mandelson and Epstein, once again raising questions about political responsibility, transparency of appointments and the boundaries of what is acceptable for individuals holding the highest public offices.
The newly declassified documents indicate that Epstein was sent internal discussions from the heart of the UK government in the period following the 2008 global financial crisis – a time when any premature information could have had significant value on financial markets.
Within the British Labour Party, criticism of Starmer intensified after he stated that Mandelson had "portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew," particularly in light of his response to the reputational scandal for the party.
"He has [Mandelson – Ed.] lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador," Keir Starmer said, adding: "I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government."
It is also telling that Maurice Glasman, a member of the House of Lords, publicly stated back in September last year that he had warned the prime minister about Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, but received, according to him, "a proposal, in essence, to keep quiet."
As a result of the scandal, Starmer has come under growing political pressure that increasingly goes beyond the "Mandelson case" and calls into question the quality of decision-making at the very center of his government.
This political pressure is reinforced by public opinion. According to the latest YouGov poll, half of Britons believe that Starmer should resign.
For now, Prime Minister Starmer is rejecting calls for his resignation.