The government has published the first set of documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States on Wednesday, less than two months after emails between the statesman and Jeffrey Epstein were brought to light.
In February, MPs ordered the government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to the disgraced financier.
The prime minister has insisted Lord Mandelson “lied repeatedly” to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador.
Lord Mandelson was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary. He was released pending investigation.
Here is what we know about the pair’s relationship.
2002
Lord Mandelson writes a memo encouraging the then-prime minister Tony Blair to meet Epstein, according to The Times.
2003
Lord Mandelson’s message to Epstein, in which he describes him as his “best pal”, is included in a “birthday book” compiled by convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
2006
As police in Florida suggest Epstein should be charged with four counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, Lord Mandelson says, “I am following you closely and here whenever you need,” after Epstein tells him he is “attempting to set up another prosecutor meeting”, according to Bloomberg.
Epstein is later arrested and Bloomberg reports that Lord Mandelson asks the paedophile for updates on the same day, saying “keep me posted”.
2007
Epstein’s lawyers engage in a discussion with Miami attorney Alexander Acosta about a plea bargain that would allow him to avoid prosecution.
2008
Epstein pleads guilty to soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor and is sentenced to 18 months in a minimum-security prison.
The US attorney’s office agrees not to prosecute Epstein for more serious federal crimes in a secret arrangement.
Lord Mandelson writes emails showing support for Epstein while he is facing charges for soliciting a minor, including one that says: “Your friends stay with you and love you.”
The emails, reported by The Sun, also show the former Labour minister tells Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before his prison sentence.
2009
Lord Mandelson stays at Epstein’s Manhattan apartment while the paedophile is serving his 18-month sentence, an internal report by the JP Morgan bank suggests.
Epstein is released from prison after serving 13 months.
2019
Epstein is arrested on sex trafficking charges after lawyers in New York conclude they are not bound by the secret non-prosecution agreement.
The paedophile financier is found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York a month later.
Lord Mandelson’s affiliation with Epstein is thrown into the spotlight after a picture of him with the paedophile financier on St Barts is published.
2025
Lord Mandelson tells a Financial Times reporter to “f*** off” after being asked about his relationship with Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee in the US releases a number of documents from the Epstein estate, including the “birthday book” with Lord Mandelson’s message in it.
Lord Mandelson describes his birthday message to Epstein as “very embarrassing” during an interview with The Sun’s Harry Cole Saves the West programme.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer asks Lord Mandelson to stand down.
2026
Lord Mandelson features in more than three million documents released by the US Department of Justice related to paedophile financier Epstein.
Met Police launches a criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson into allegations he passed on sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary.
Lord Mandelson is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation.
On Wednesday 11 March, the government released a tranche of documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States.
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