Remember me
Secretary of State for Housing, Steve Reed, refused to rule out whether Mandelson would be allowed to return to the House of Lords after new documents released as part of the so-called “Epstein files” revealed that the disgraced financier sent thousands of pounds to the Labour peer’s husband after he asked him to pay for his osteopathy course fees.
When asked by Laura Kuenssberg on whether he believed Mandelson should be allowed back in the House of Lords on Sunday, Reed claimed it would be “very easy for me to sit here and speculate” and refused to give a definitive answer.
Mandelson was sacked as UK ambassador to the US in September after details of his relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein were published.
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The former Labour minister called Epstein his “best pal”, writing emails in support of the paedophile billionaire when he was being investigated for offences, with new documents suggesting his husband borrowed thousands of pounds from him.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has said that allowing Mandelson to retain his title as a Labour peer is not only an “insult to voters” but it also “fails the victims” of Epstein, who deserve “far better” than Keir Starmer's inaction.
He said: “Even before these latest revelations it was absolutely astonishing that Keir Starmer continued to allow Peter Mandelson to sit in the House of Lords as a Labour Peer.
“It is an insult to voters who expect far better and to taxpayers who are footing the bill for his wages but, above all, it fails the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who deserve far better than Keir Starmer's inaction.”
Flynn added: “This sordid story has gone on long enough - friends of paedophiles should not be in the Lords and that should be an open and shut case for any reasonable person.”
In January, the SNP presented a bill in Westminster to strip Mandelson of his peerage. He was ennobled in 2008.
The party has been pushing for Mandelson to have his peerage stripped since the scandal erupted, first putting forward a motion urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take “the legislative steps to remove his peerage”.
Mandelson has kept his title since the SNP called for it to be removed.
It is possible to remove a peerage, but only through an act of parliament, as they are legal documents issued by the monarch and adorned with the Great Seal.
A life peer can resign from their position in the second chamber, but retains their title, while a peer can also have their membership of the Lords suspended or cancelled if they are convicted of a serious offence, or be expelled by the House.
In Mandelson’s case, it is understood that legislation would have to be passed to remove him.
Mandelson has sought to distance himself from Epstein but emails have revealed the extent of their friendship even after the conviction.
Emails showed he told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
He is also reported to have told Epstein “I think the world of you” the day before the disgraced financier began his jail sentence.
Mandelson has suggested Epstein excluded him from the “sexual side” of his life because he was gay.
Labour declined to comment.
