The latest shocking revelations surely mean the end of his political career

Peter Mandelson is one of those shadowy figures who has always been close to the levers of power but, seemingly, far enough away to be able to plot a path to a political recovery with the aid of a full-throated mea culpa apology.

This time around, however, is different. Mandelson has resigned his position in the House of Lords and relinquished his membership from the Labour Party, with Keir Starmer commenting that the revelations of Mandelson’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein are “gobsmacking and appalling” and that his conduct “weakens trust” with the electorate.

Scandal history

The fact Mandelson has been funded by the taxpayer all this time adds insult to injury. His is a chequered history that most would be shocked and surprised by if not for the fact that he is in good company. For years the political system has been strewn with morally questionable individuals.

The following is a brief, and certainly not exhaustive, run-down of the aptly named “Prince of Darkness,” later updated to “Dark Lord,” and his extracurricular activities over the years.

The home loan scandal (1998)

Mandelson’s first major cabinet resignation occurred in December 1998 after it was revealed he had accepted a secret £373,000 interest-free loan from fellow MP Geoffrey Robinson to buy a home in Notting Hill. At the time, Mandelson was the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and his department was actively investigating Robinson’s business dealings – a huge conflict of interest. Mandelson failed to declare the loan on the Register of Members’ Interests or to his mortgage provider. He was forced to resign from the Cabinet.

The hinduja passport scandal (2001)

Less than two years after returning to the Cabinet as Northern Ireland Secretary, Mandelson resigned again, this time in January 2001. He was accused of using his influence to fast-track a British passport application for Srichand Hinduja, an Indian billionaire whose family had donated £1 million to the Millennium Dome (which Mandelson had previously overseen). While a subsequent inquiry by Sir Anthony Hammond largely cleared him of “improperly” influencing the decision, Mandelson’s initial misleading statements to the Prime Minister’s press secretary made his position untenable, leading to his second resignation.

The ‘yachtgate’ controversy (2008)

In October 2008, shortly after being made a life peer and returning to government as Business Secretary, he was criticised for his links to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Mandelson had accepted hospitality on Deripaska’s yacht in Corfu. At the time, Mandelson was the EU Trade Commissioner, a role that involved making decisions on aluminium tariffs that directly affected Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Mandelson denied any conflict of interest, stating he never gave or received favours.

The Jeffrey Epstein revelations (2025–2026)

He saved the worst till last. The most recent and severe scandal involves Mandelson’s long-standing relationship with convicted serial child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In September 2025, Mandelson was dismissed from his post as British Ambassador to the United States by Keir Starmer after communications revealed the depth of his ties to Epstein, including a 2003 message calling him his “best pal.”

In February 2026, newly released documents suggested Mandelson had leaked confidential Downing Street files to Epstein between 2009 and 2010 (after Epstein had been convicted). The material shared included market-sensitive information regarding the financial crisis, tax policy plans and even the existence of a secret tunnel between 10 Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence. This week, February 1, 2026, Mandelson announced his resignation from the House of Lords. He also renounced his Labour Party membership. The Metropolitan Police are currently reviewing reports of alleged “misconduct in public office.

Another trite apology

Mandelson may or may not make another trite apology. It may be his best yet. He’s very good at apologies. When the noise dies down, and whether or not any criminal convictions result, I suspect this really will be the end of Mandelson’s political career. 

However, people have said as much in the past following other scandals. History has taught us that regardless of how cut and dried we think things may be, we should never rule out Mandelson gravitating back into the Labour Party fold at some point in the future, having spent some time swanning around the world on an extended holiday until the inconvenient public ire is forgotten.