A prominent UK government official has proposed that Peter Mandelson should testify in the United States regarding his connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed emphasized that Lord Mandelson should clarify any remaining “lack of disclosure” about his association with Epstein. Reed stated that anyone with relevant information should come forward to aid in understanding the situation and providing justice for the victims. He noted that individuals like Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson have a moral obligation to share what they know to assist in seeking justice for the victims.
Reed also highlighted the need for Lord Mandelson to explain whether he properly declared significant amounts of cash that seemed to have been received from Epstein. Records revealed payments of $25,000 to an account linked to Reinaldo Avila da Silva, Lord Mandelson’s spouse, in 2003, with two further payments of the same amount to different accounts in Lord Mandelson’s name in 2004, during his tenure as a Labour MP for Hartlepool.
Lord Mandelson, however, claimed no memory of these payments and expressed regret for ever being associated with Epstein. Additionally, images of Lord Mandelson with a woman in a bathrobe were among the thousands released by the US government, although being featured in the Epstein files does not imply any wrongdoing.
When questioned about potentially stripping Lord Mandelson of his peerage due to his ties with Epstein, Reed suggested the need for a comprehensive understanding of the situation before taking any action. He emphasized the importance of uncovering the full details before making any judgments.
Furthermore, Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative leader, urged Keir Starmer to suspend Lord Mandelson’s Labour Party membership and initiate an immediate investigation into the financial transactions between Mandelson, his husband, and Epstein. The Labour Party refrained from commenting on individual membership statuses but assured that all complaints were taken seriously and investigated according to party rules.
Lord Mandelson currently lacks the Labour whip as he is not active in the House of Lords, having been granted a leave of absence to serve as the British Ambassador to the US in December 2024. Following revelations about his connections to Epstein, Starmer dismissed him from the position in September. It is understood that Lord Mandelson may not return to the Lords, and his membership could effectively cease.
Lord Mandelson has no plans to alter his leave of absence but will need to renew it when the parliamentary session concludes in May. Members can request leave of absence for temporary circumstances preventing House attendance, with an intention to return in the future. The process of expulsion or suspension for breaches of the House of Lords code of conduct involves investigation by an independent commissioner.
While the House has the authority to expel members for misconduct, removing a peerage requires specific legislation. The Titles Deprivation Act, which was utilized during WWI to strip peerages from “enemies,” may not be applicable today due to its historical context.
