Former UK minister Peter Mandelson to retire from House of Lords amid Epstein email scandal

Peter Mandelson, a former Labour government minister, will retire from the House of Lords on Wednesday amid intensifying scrutiny over his email correspondence with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Forsyth, announced Tuesday that Mandelson had notified the Clerk of the Parliaments of his intention to step down, saying the move was made “given the public interest and for the convenience of the House.”

Government Refers Case to Police

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office stated that an initial review of U.S.-released Epstein documents indicated Mandelson had likely leaked market-sensitive government information while serving as business secretary in 2009, potentially breaching safeguards designed to prevent financial gain from insider knowledge. The Cabinet Office has referred the material to the police for investigation. Starmer called the allegations “disgraceful” and said Mandelson had “let his country down.”

Political Fallout and Peerage Removal

Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday as pressure mounted over his ties to Epstein. While he can retire from the House of Lords, his life peerage can only be removed by an act of Parliament. Starmer’s office said officials are drafting legislation to revoke his title “as quickly as possible.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting described Mandelson’s connections to Epstein as a “betrayal” of the financier’s victims.

Background of the Epstein Files Release

The controversy stems from the recent release of over 3 million pages of documents by the U.S. Justice Department under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Donald Trump in November. The files include emails showing Mandelson forwarded internal government information to Epstein. The Metropolitan Police announced Monday it would review allegations of misconduct in public office related to the case.