Britain has sacked Peter Mandelson as its ambassador to the United States over his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, its foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Mandelson, a veteran Labour politician who was key to the party's success under former leader Tony Blair, came under heavy scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein after a birthday book was released including a letter purportedly from Mandelson describing Epstein as "my best pal".
"In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador," Britain's foreign ministry said.
"The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment."
The ministry said the revelation of Mandelson's suggestion that Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged was "new information."
Mandelson, has said he deeply regrets ever meeting convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and that he had carried on that association "for far longer than I should have done."
In an interview with Britain's Sun newspaper released on Wednesday (10 September), Mandelson said he felt a "profound sense of sympathy for those people, those women who suffered as a result of his behaviour and his illegal criminal activities."
"I feel a tremendous sense of regret not only that I met him in the first place, but that I continued the association and I took at face value the lies that he fed me and many others," he said, describing Epstein as a "charismatic criminal liar."
The release of the document and others involving Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019, have brought renewed attention to an issue that has implicated others, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain's Prince Andrew.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told parliament on Wednesday that he still had confidence in Madelson.
"The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association with (Epstein)," Starmer said.
"He's right to do so. I have confidence in him, and he's playing an important role in the UK-U.S. relationship," he added.
Eurasian leaders have gathered in Bishkek for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit focused on security, economic ties and regional co-op...
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases...
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said....
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused U.S. government and Israel-aligned actors of manipulating energy markets to promote the war with Iran.
Russian strikes on the Kyiv region overnight killed 37 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Zelenskyy added that the Ukrainian capital was under "virtually nonstop attack" from drones.
At least 37 people were killed after a Russian drone strike hit an ammunition depot in the Kyiv region, triggering powerful secondary explosions President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, vowing to punish suspected negligence in the second such incident in two months.
The death toll from last week's catastrophic floods in Nepal and Tibet rose to 750 on Sunday, with 3,044 people still missing, as fresh rainfall pushed up river levels and forced rescuers to move to higher ground.
Rescue teams in Nepal, supported by Chinese and Indian experts, worked through the night to reach hundreds of people believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels following last week’s catastrophic Himalayan flood.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 31st of August, covering the latest developments.
Around 20 people are reported missing after flooding struck parts of Grand Canyon National Park in the U.S. state of Arizona, prompting evacuations of people to safety and a large-scale response from park authorities.
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered the introduction of the death penalty for people convicted of deliberately setting forest fires, following wildfires that recently killed 12 people across the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment