Mandelson erupts when asked about Epstein links

Britain’s new ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, has reacted with a foul-mouth rant when pressed about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

- KATE DEVLIN

The New Labour grandee also accused others of having an “obsession” over his relationship with the disgraced financier and convicted sex trafficker.

Lord Mandelson has come under intense pressure in the role even before he crosses the Atlantic to take up the job. The Independent revealed last month that President Trump was considering rejecting Lord Mandelson’s nomination, in what would have been a major diplomatic headache for Sir Keir Starmer.

The peer has faced scrutiny, including over his friendship with Epstein who died in prison in 2019. In an interview with the Financial Times, Lord Mandelson said: “I regret ever meeting him or being introduced to him by his partner Ghislaine Maxwell. I regret even more the hurt he caused to many young women.” He went on to add: “I’m not going to go into this. It’s an FT obsession and frankly you can all fuck off. OK?”