MAND DOWN

Peer sacked over Epstein saga, PM acts after email revelations

- SOPHIE HUSKISSON

LORD Mandelson has finally been axed over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after Keir Starmer ditched his support.

Despite backing the US ambassador on Wednesday, the PM yesterday branded his emails to the late paedophile “reprehensible”.

And last night Lord Mandelson faced calls to be stripped of his peerage as Labour MP Jo White said he should now “pack his bags” and quit the Lords.

The former UK ambassador to Washington was told to go after the Foreign Office said emails revealed he suggested the late US paedophile’s conviction for sex crimes was wrong.

But Starmer also came under pressure when it emerged the security services expressed concern about Lord Mandelson’s appointment at the time but No10 went ahead anyway.

The peer, 71, last night reiterated his regret for staying close to the man he called his “best pal” in a birthday note after Epstein was convicted of sex offences involving children.

But Labour's Bassetlaw MP White said: “He should pack his bags and go, that means resigning as a member of the House of Lords.

“If he doesn't he will be bringing the Houses of Parliament into disrepute. Peter Mandelson knew fully the extent of his relationship with Epstein and should never have gone for the role of ambassador to the US.

“He has put the Prime Minister in a very, very difficult position and in my view has misled him. He went for this role purely to pursue his own ego rather than the best interests of our country. My only wish is that he resigns from politics immediately”