Disgraced former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has suffered fresh humiliation after losing an honorary museum post over his links with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Labour peer was sacked in September after emails emerged in which he told Epstein to ‘fight for early release‘.
Earlier this month, his name was taken off a list of honorary fellows at St Catherine’s college, Oxford – and now in the latest blow, Lord Mandelson has lost his role at the Design Museum, which he used to chair.
In September, Manchester Metropolitan University stripped the 72-year-old of his honorary doctorate and a commemorative medal, which were given to him during his time as chancellor between 2016 and 2024.
At the London-based Design Museum, Mandelson had served as the Chair of Trustees and had up until this week been considered as an Emeritus Trustee.
A spokesperson told Daily Mirror: ‘Lord Mandelson no longer holds any formal position at the Design Museum. He completed his term as Chair of Trustees in 2023.
‘The museum’s website listed him among several former trustees in recognition of their previous voluntary service to the institution; the role of ‘Trustee Emeriti’ is honorary and carries no responsibilities or active involvement in the museum’s governance or operations. He is no longer an Emeritus Trustee.’
It is understood the removal of his title was decided by the Design Museum rather than Lord Mandelson.
Disgraced former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has suffered fresh humiliation after losing an honorary museum post over his links with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
The Foreign Office said recently-published emails showed ‘the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment’ as US ambassador. Pictured: The Labour peer with his ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein
His latest rebuke has renewed calls for Lord Mandelson to be stripped of his life peerage which he was given in 2008.
The removal of the title and his removal from the House of Lords would require an act of Parliament.
He was already stripped of his role as High Steward of Hull – a ceremonial role which he was appointed to in 2013 to promote the city.
This week it was revealed that Lord Mandelson had finally been taken off the government payroll.
Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins was grilled about the handling of the former US ambassador’s departure as he gave evidence to MPs.
But although Sir Olly confirmed that the New Labour architect was ‘withdrawn’ from his £160,000 a year post rather than resigning, he refused to say whether he received a payoff.
Instead he merely stressed that the peer was ‘dealt with in accordance with his contract’ and the department will only reveal details of payoffs if they are over £300,000.
The latest dishonour comes as it emerged Mandelson remained on friendly terms with Epstein as late as 2016 – years after his conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
The Labour peer was made the UK’s ambassador to Washington by Sir Keir Starmer
Revealing correspondence published from Epstein’s estate by the US House Oversight Committee also shows that Mandelson took relationship advice from the paedophile and urged him to steer clear of Andrew.
In one email from Epstein to Mandelson on 6 November 2016, he writes ’63 years old. You made it’ not long after his birthday.
Mandelson replies within hours saying: ‘Just. I have decided to extend my life by spending more of it in the US’ before Epstein replies ‘in the Donald White House’ referring to the US presidential election due later that week.
Epstein goes on to say ‘you were right about staying away from Andrew. I was right in your staying with Rinaldo [sic]’, a reference to Mandelson’s partner Reinaldo Avilda da Silva.
In another exchange in March 2011, an email shows Mandelson urging Epstein not to do a BBC interview about his links to Andrew.
After being forwarded a request from BBC Radio 4’s Today to interview Epstein about ‘stories which are circulating’, about him and Andrew, Mandelson replied ‘No!!’
Mandelson was until recently the UK’s ambassador to Washington, but was sacked over his close friendship with the convicted paedophile.
The Labour peer’s relationship with Epstein has come under extraordinary scrutiny after the release of a ten-page letter in which he described him as his ‘best pal’.
The latest dishonour comes as it emerged Mandelson stayed friendly with Epstein up to 2016
Revealing correspondence shows that Mandelson took relationship advice from the paedophile and urged him to steer clear of Andrew. Pictured: The infamous photograph of the former Duke of York with Virginia Giuffre taken in 2001
The note, written for Epstein’s 50th birthday album in 2003, gushed: ‘Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call ‘mysterious’ parachuted into my life.’
On another page beside a picture of Epstein’s private island, Mandelson wrote about him entertaining ‘in one of his glorious homes he likes to share with his friends (yum yum)’.
The message ended: ‘But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal! Happy Birthday Jeffrey. We love you!!’
The album, compiled by Epstein’s former lover Ghislaine Maxwell – now serving 20 years in a US jail for sex trafficking – was published on Monday by the US House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein’s sordid network of friends.
Sir Keir Starmer, who picked the Labour grandee to be the UK’s representative in Washington, sacked Lord Mandelson after emails showed the peer sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences.
The Foreign Office said the emails showed ‘the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment’.
Mandelson has since sought to distance himself from Epstein saying he felt ‘utterly awful about my association with Epstein 20 years ago’.
