Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson as ambassador to US over Epstein friendship

Mr Mandelson is reported to have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison

Peter Mandelson

Peter Mandelson has been withdrawn as ambassador to the US after emails revealed the depth of his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Keir Starmer, who picked the Labour grandee to be the UK’s representative in Washington, made the decision after emails showed the peer sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences.