INDEPENDENT - News UK UK Politics - Thursday 11 September 2025 22:00 BST - Mandelson says he feels ‘utterly awful’ about Epstein friendship after Starmer sacking: Latest updates James Roscoe has taken over from Lord Mandelson as interim ambassador while Downing Street finds a replacement.

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Mandelson says he feels ‘utterly awful’ about Epstein friendship after Starmer sacking: Latest updates

James Roscoe has taken over from Lord Mandelson as interim ambassador while Downing Street finds a replacement.

David Maddox

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Archie Mitchell

Tom Watling

Bryony Gooch

Thursday 11 September 2025 22:00 BST

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Government says Peter Mandelson sacked 'in light of new emails' over relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

View from Westminster

Peter Mandelson has shared his regrets in a letter to the UK embassy after Sir Keir Starmer sensationally sacked him as US ambassador over the growing scandal of his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Lord Mandelson said: “The circumstances surrounding the announcement today are ones which I deeply regret. I continue to feel utterly awful about my association with Epstein 20 years ago and the plight of his victims.

“I have no alternative to accepting the Prime Minister’s decision and will leave a position in which I have been so incredibly honoured to serve.”

The prime minister asked Lord Mandelson to step down after a string of shocking revelations, including resurfaced emails appearing to show him offering support for convicted paedophile Epstein as he was facing charges of child sex offences.

Sir Keir found Lord Mandelson’s emails to Jeffrey Epstein “reprehensible”, Downing Street has said.

James Roscoe has taken over from Lord Mandelson as interim ambassador while Downing Street begins the process of finding a permanent replacement.

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Starmer found Mandelson emails with Epstein 'reprehensible'

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The combination of money and immorality in Peter Mandelson’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has created a stench for Keir Starmer, writes Sean O’Grady. The question is how long it will hang around

Bryony Gooch   11 September 2025 22:00