Peter Mandelson, the recently dismissed ambassador to the US, has a long history in British public life spanning over three decades. Once known as the “Prince of Darkness,” he played a significant role in the rejuvenation of the Labour Party during the mid-1980s alongside figures like Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. At the outset of his ambassadorial role in Washington, Mandelson stated his intent to “stay below the radar,” although his previous actions suggested otherwise.
Mandelson has maintained associations with wealthy individuals throughout his career, which has led to scrutiny of his relationships with figures in high finance and business. Notably, he was photographed with Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship that has come under recent public examination. Despite Mandelson’s claim that he supports wealthy individuals as long as they pay taxes, questions remain about whether he scrutinized the financial practices of his affluent acquaintances.
Mandelson’s political trajectory has not been without controversy. He resigned twice from Blair’s government due to financial improprieties. His first resignation in 1998 concerned an undeclared loan of £373,000 from fellow politician Geoffrey Robinson. He acknowledged that this lack of transparency contributed to a perceived conflict of interest. His second resignation came in 2001 after it was revealed that he had intervened with the Home Office on behalf of Indian businessman Srichand Hinduja, who was pursuing UK citizenship.
In his subsequent role as the EU’s trade commissioner, Mandelson’s connections with the affluent continued, including a controversial trip to Russia with Nathaniel Rothschild. In 2008, issues concerning Mandelson’s ties with Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire aluminum magnate, surfaced when he was awarded a peerage.
Despite stepping back from frontline politics in 2010, Mandelson remained active, founding a consultancy that has worked with various international clients. His previous advocacy for stronger UK-China relations has led to questions about his consultancy’s potential link to Chinese influence operations.
Most recently, Mandelson was unable to withstand the backlash from emerging details about his connection to Epstein, resulting in his resignation, marking a significant turning point in his career.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/10/a-banya-with-a-billionaire-undeclared-loans-and-pure-poison-the-many-scandals-of-peter-mandelson