Peter Mandelson admitted he continued his relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for many years during his vetting interview.
The former senior Labour adviser was sacked as the UK Ambassador to the US on Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister defended him in the Commons.
Allies of Mandelson said he told interviewers in the vetting process that he had carried on his relationship with the notorious paedophile for many years and deeply regretted doing so.
Lord Mandelson’s sacking came after emails showed "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 Foreign Office said.
He was reported to have told Epstein to "fight for early release" shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and told him "I think the world of you" the day before the disgraced financier began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein had been known about, but Bloomberg and The Sun published emails showing that the relationship continued after his crimes had emerged.
One cabinet minister told The Times: "It was obvious from the start that he [Mandelson] was the wrong choices...It was just a matter of time. It’s so damaging."
Several Labour’s MPs openly took aim at the Prime Minister's handling of the scandal.
Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker, who initially stood for the party’s deputy leadership, criticised the “delay” in dismissing Mandelson.
She said: "The delay in sacking him has only served to further erode the trust and confidence in our government and politics in the round...We must be better."
Lord Mandelson’s deputy, James Roscoe, will be the interim ambassador to the US and has taken over with immediate effect.
The Conservatives called for full disclosure on who in Downing Street knew what about Lord Mandelson’s links with Epstein, while the Liberal Democrats demanded a review of vetting procedures.
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WATCH: Nigel Farage reacts to Peter Mandelson's sacking, calling Keir Starmer's judgement into question
Nigel Farage announces Reform's candidate for Caerphilly by-election
Nigel Farage has announced Llŷr Powell as Reform UK's candidate for the upcoming Caerphilly by-election.
Mr Powell becomes the fourth candidate confirmed for the by-election which was called following the tragic death of Hefin David.
The candidates announced so far are:
- Gareth Potter (Conservative)
- Richard Tunnicliffe (Labour)
- Lindsay Whittle (Plaid Cymru)
- Llŷr Powell (Reform UK)
Pressure mounts on Keir Starmer over botched Lord Mandelson appointment
Lord Mandelson has been removed as Britain's Ambassador to the US | GETTYSir Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure with MPs asking questions his political judgement after the botched Lord Mandelson appointment.
The former US Ambassador told his vetting officer that he had continued his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein for many years and that he deeply regretted doing so, adding that he now feels ill treated by the Prime Minister.
One cabinet minister told The Times: " It was obvious from the start that he [Mandelson] was the wrong choice. It was just a matter of time. It’s so damaging.
Another added it should have been "obvious" that Lord Mandelson’s resignation was inevitable.
The Times reports Lord Mandelson refused to resign so the Prime Minister sacked him, as there was concern in the Foreign Office he would "not go quietly."
Labour leader of Caerphilly Council quits Keir Starmer's party ahead of crunch by election
The Labour leader of Caerphilly Council has quit the party in a bombshell resignation ahead of a key Senedd by-election.
Sean Morgan has told the BBC that he expects Plaid Cymru to win and Reform to come second, describing his former party as a "busted flush."
Mr Morgan added he would be voting for Plaid candidate Lindsay Whittle.
A Labour spokesman told The Spectator: "We have robust due diligence processes in place agreed by the Welsh Executive Committee to ensure everyone selected to stand for the Labour party is shares the party’s values."
Alex Burghart said there are 'huge questions' for everyone involved in Peter Mandelson appointment
Shadow Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart says there are 'huge questions' for the Prime Minister
|GB News
Shadow Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart said there are "huge questions" for everyone involved in the botched appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.
The MP for Brentwood and Ongar told GB News Breakfast: "It become clear overnight that the vetting process did throw up a whole load of problems with the appointment.
"It's incredibly unlikely PM and his team wouldn't have known what we all know now and they still appointed him.
"We in the Conservatives are calling on the PM and the Government to publish all this stuff right now and get it on the table."
Nigel Farage to announce by-election candidate in Caerphilly
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will announce his party's candidate in the Caerphilly by-election today.
The Senedd by-election, called after the sudden death of Hefin David has kicked off ahead of polling day on October 23.
The Welsh parliamentary constituency has been held by Labour since its creation in 1999, however both Reform UK and Plaid Cymru are eying up the seat.
Zack Polanski says 'multiple' Labour MPs are considering defecting to the Greens
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he would welcome Labour MPs
|PA
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he has spoken to "multiple" Labour MPs who are considering defecting to his party.
Mr Polanski said his party would "absolutely" welcome disillusioned MPs, as long as they share the party’s values.
He told The Independent: "Undoubtedly, there are Labour politicians that I would accept defections from. Not all of them, it’s really important to point out that caveat.
"It’s also important to point out that it wouldn’t be my decision; it would be a democratic decision made by an elected body, but that’s quite a technical answer.
"So I’ll answer a question directly: would I accept, as in would I encourage defections? Absolutely."
He cited Norwich South MP Clive Lewis and Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome as people who he would welcome into his party.
Labour minister says MPs are 'despondent' following double departure
Douglas Alexander said he understood that Labour MPs would be “despondent” in the wake of the departure of Angela Rayner and Peter Mandelson.
The Scotland Secretary told BBC Breakfast: “Many of us were devastated by Angela Rayner’s departure from the Government last week.
“She’s an extraordinary woman who’s overcome the most extraordinary challenges and we are grieving and feel quite acutely that sense of loss.
“Now to have the dismissal of Peter Mandelson just the next week, I totally get it, of course Labour MPs will be despondent that in two weeks in a row we have seen significant resignations from public service.
“These are not the headlines any of us in Government or in Parliament would have chosen or wanted. But the fact is when the evidence emerged, action had to be taken and we are looking forward, therefore, to moving on.”
Former Conservative Adviser Oscar Reddrop believes that Keir Starmer’s Labour Government 'is done'
UK economic growth FLATLINES in hammer blow to Labour's core manifesto pledge
Britain's economy flatlined in July after a mere 0.4 per cent expansion in June, the Office for National Statistics has said.
In a hammer blow to Labour's core manifesto pledge, the economy recorded zero growth for the last month on record.
"Kickstart economic growth" was the first of the party's five key pledges ahead of last year's General Election.
Morgan McSweeney pushed for Keir Starmer to hire Mandelson
Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney was pushing for the Prime Minister to hire Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador.
A party source told Politico: "Everyone was like, this is looking really bad for the Prime Minister and Morgan was like, no, we need to defend him."
One Labour insider told the Mail "Morgan was very insistent", with a backbench MP telling the i the Prime Minister "needs better advisers" while another told the Guardian that some in Downing Street "think it’s OK for their mates to do bad things."
Fresh wave of sanctions placed on Russia
President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the drills
|REUTERS
Britain announced a new package of Russia-related sanctions on Friday, including 70 new specifications and 30 new designations, a government statement said.
It comes as Russia and Belarus began a major joint military exercise on Nato's doorstep on Friday that will involve drills in both countries and in the Baltic and Barents seas, the Russian defence ministry said.
The "Zapad-2025" exercise - a show of force by Russia and its close ally, is taking place at an exceptionally tense moment in the Russia-Ukraine war, two days after Poland, with support from its NATO allies, shot down suspected Russian drones over its airspace.
Nigel Nelson says questions for Keir Starmer 'will not end here'
GB News Senior Political Commentator Nigel Nelson said questions for the Prime Minister "will not end here."
Describing him as the "best political brains I have ever encountered", Nigel described how he fired Mandelson during his time editing the Sunday People
He added: "Peter’s problem is that he is not so good at advising himself."
Keir Starmer has got just SIX MONTHS to prove he has got the right stuff to be PM, claims Labour peer
Sir Keir Starmer has six months to prove that he has got what it takes to be Prime Minister, a leading Labour peer who is close to figures in 10 Downing Street has said.
Lord Glasman, the founder of the Blue Labour group which represents Labour supporters in areas targeted by Reform UK, told Chopper's Political Podcast that Mr Starmer "may or may not" survive as leader at the next election expected in 2029.
The peer said: "What I see with him is that he genuinely wants to be a national leader... he's making a drastic transition from being basically a human rights lawyer to being a national politician, being a Prime Minister.