Peter Mandelson achieved much for Labour and the governments he served in, and, without being pompous, for the British people. He was a key figure in saving his party in the 1980s, an outstanding EU trade envoy, too, and was already plainly a skilful ambassador in Washington. He was usually well-respected by those he worked with and, for some leaders of his party, regarded as indispensable.
His gifts are considerable – but so, evidently, are his flaws. He will carry with him for the rest of his life the shame – there is no better word for it – that he was advising Jeffrey Epstein on “strategy” and urging him on in his plea bargaining for a reduced prison sentence on the charge of procuring a minor for prostitution. Keir Starmer was right to sack him.
