Mandelson declines to apologise for staying friends with 'best pal' Epstein

Peter Mandelson has declined to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein's victims for staying friends with the convicted child sex offender, and suggested he knew nothing of the disgraced financier's sex life because he is gay.

- Rowena Mason

The Labour peer, who was sacked as US ambassador when details of his support for Epstein emerged in September, gave an interview to the BBC yesterday, saying he had paid a "calamitous" price for his association with the "evil monster".

Lord Mandelson's association with Epstein had long been known when Keir Starmer appointed the peer as US ambassador. However, he was removed from his diplomatic post after No 10 said it had been unaware of emails from Mandelson to Epstein suggesting the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution was wrongful and should be challenged.

Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 and served time in jail but Mandelson said he had believed Epstein's excuses and continued to support him out of "misplaced loyalty" and "a most terrible mistake on my part".

In his interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg yesterday, the peer sought to distance himself from Epstein, saying he was "at the edge of this man's life", despite "toe-curlingly embarassing" emails showing his support and a birthday message describing him as a best pal.