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Original poster

To wonder how on Earth Mandelson can carry on and how the Prime Minister can back him?

64 replies

TowersofGable · 10/09/2025 22:48

Seriously, have you read the messages?

Anyone with any ounce of integrity would have resigned immediately. Instead we get the ghastly spectacle of him hanging on to see if it all blows over.

OP posts:
Createausername1970 · 11/09/2025 08:23

EverybodyLTB · 10/09/2025 22:56

He was imprisoned for procuring a child under 14 for prostitution - Mandy said words to the effect of ‘don’t worry, your friends all love you!’

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Grim!

Createausername1970 · 11/09/2025 08:21

TowersofGable · 10/09/2025 23:02

He carried on writing gushing messages of support after he was convicted, never mind under suspicion!

Edited
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Thanks for the update. I was aware of the news story but not the substance.

People do get accused of things and then found to be entirely innocent, and that must be a terrible time, and made worse by friends dropping you like a hot potato. So I would never judge someone who supported a friend and reserved their own judgement until all the facts were known.

But if he carried on the friendship after the allegations were proven then that's definitely cause for his resignation. Poor error of judgement at the very least. Possibly an indication of his own attitudes.

AdaColeman · 11/09/2025 00:10

I was quite shocked when Mandelson was given the Ambassador post to the USA, as it's so high profile while his career has had some difficulties.

Mandelson's judgement and assessment of people and situations must be flawed for him to be so heavily involved with Epstein. According to the BBC Mandelson contributed ten pages of photos and comments to the infamous Epstein Birthday Book, so they weren't mere casual acquaintances.

Yet being able to judge and assess people and situations accurately, without being led astray by anyone attempting to manipulate or deceive you, is a key skill for an Ambassador, the safety of your country could depend on it. Mandelson definitely has to go!

ninjahamster · 11/09/2025 00:01

I don’t see how he can remain in post. His integrity is too questionable.

roseyposey · 10/09/2025 23:56

ConstitutionHill · 10/09/2025 23:04

Something of the night.

Most definitely

Dangermoos · 10/09/2025 23:56

LemondrizzleShark · 10/09/2025 23:52

So did I, up until I discovered he’d been accepting glasses, clothes for his wife and £100k in other gifts. He lost any shred of credibility he had as non-corrupt when all that came out. Just because he isn’t as successful at grifting as Boris doesn’t make it any less sleazy.

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True.

TerminalMoraine · 10/09/2025 23:54

Dangermoos · 10/09/2025 23:07

I'm told I should detest Starmer but I can't bring myself to. Agree on his lack of political instinct but there's less to find offence with than many other Labour MPs I could mention. I actually believe he's genuinely a man of principle, albeit a wet lettuce.

He has lasted more than 49 days Liz Lettuce

LemondrizzleShark · 10/09/2025 23:52

Dangermoos · 10/09/2025 23:07

I'm told I should detest Starmer but I can't bring myself to. Agree on his lack of political instinct but there's less to find offence with than many other Labour MPs I could mention. I actually believe he's genuinely a man of principle, albeit a wet lettuce.

So did I, up until I discovered he’d been accepting glasses, clothes for his wife and £100k in other gifts. He lost any shred of credibility he had as non-corrupt when all that came out. Just because he isn’t as successful at grifting as Boris doesn’t make it any less sleazy.

elprup · 10/09/2025 23:49

How did all this come out? I think I saw it was published in The Sun, but how did they get hold of the messages and photos?

He’s surely got to go… at this rate Starmer will have no one left!

AnneLovesGilbert · 10/09/2025 23:45

Yes, he’s got to go. I read one of the emails about Epstein turning it into an opportunity and nearly puked in my own mouth. Just revolting. Keir will capitulate, a few days later than he should have, as always.

It might hang on by threads until after the State visit but that’s a political headache whichever way it goes.

AnneLovesGilbert · 10/09/2025 23:42

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 10/09/2025 23:38

I have personally met Mandelson and he’s an odious POS. I cannot wait for his downfall. I will certainly be celebrating.

You can’t leave it there! Tell us more.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 10/09/2025 23:38

I have personally met Mandelson and he’s an odious POS. I cannot wait for his downfall. I will certainly be celebrating.

Marylou2 · 10/09/2025 23:30

He'll be gone by Friday afternoon. Exactly like Rayner was last week. No way back from this.

BramStoner · 10/09/2025 23:22

I think he’ll hang on until after Trump’s visit, given the sensitivity there. Then he’ll go. It’s not
coincidence tnat this story has emerged now.

Thegreyhound · 10/09/2025 23:21

Dangermoos · 10/09/2025 23:07

I'm told I should detest Starmer but I can't bring myself to. Agree on his lack of political instinct but there's less to find offence with than many other Labour MPs I could mention. I actually believe he's genuinely a man of principle, albeit a wet lettuce.

He may have principles but not moral ones.

Thegreyhound · 10/09/2025 23:20

As disgusting as the excusing Epstein’s sexual criminality is, I find the messages equally disturbing for what they tell us about how the world is run- all the schmoozing and fixing for the filthy rich behind the scenes to grease the path of money. All while Mandelson ‘was working day and night’ (in his own words) to stop the 2017 Labour manifesto from ever being enacted - to stop even the tiniest chance of any hope for the poorest

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 10/09/2025 23:13

I actually believe he's genuinely a man of principle

Well, sorry to paraphrase Groucho again, but,
yes he’s got principles, and don’t worry if you don’t like those, he’s got others….

Thegreyhound · 10/09/2025 23:12

Createausername1970 · 10/09/2025 22:55

I can't stand mandelson, but at the time he wrote that stuff, was the other chap under any suspicion?

I don't think anyone, even people I don't like, should be held accountable for their relationships prior to them knowing that there were issues. It's how they behave afterwards that I am more interested in.

Yes he wrote sycophantic and supportive messages to Epstein long after Epstein’s crimes were known

Camera21 · 10/09/2025 23:11

He needs to go. He has his time. He’s been caught. It’s over.

Thegreyhound · 10/09/2025 23:10

TowersofGable · 10/09/2025 22:48

Seriously, have you read the messages?

Anyone with any ounce of integrity would have resigned immediately. Instead we get the ghastly spectacle of him hanging on to see if it all blows over.

Well quite!

Mandelson was already disgraced (twice) which should have prevented him being anywhere near government ever again.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 10/09/2025 23:10

Oh, just watching ITV news and they have commented that ‘on reading the leaked messages, (after he had been charged), they are so grotesque, it is difficult to see how he can survive’.
Quite disgusting that he suggested, earlier, that the reason he might not have noticed Epstein’s crimes against women and girls and they might have passed him by because ‘he was gay, and only there with his partner’ .

Dangermoos · 10/09/2025 23:09

Starmer's certainly being tested, at the minute.

ScrollingLeaves · 10/09/2025 23:07

TowersofGable · 10/09/2025 22:48

Seriously, have you read the messages?

Anyone with any ounce of integrity would have resigned immediately. Instead we get the ghastly spectacle of him hanging on to see if it all blows over.

He may be the perfect man for the job of understanding and dealing with Trump.

Dangermoos · 10/09/2025 23:07

I'm told I should detest Starmer but I can't bring myself to. Agree on his lack of political instinct but there's less to find offence with than many other Labour MPs I could mention. I actually believe he's genuinely a man of principle, albeit a wet lettuce.

Original poster
TowersofGable · 10/09/2025 23:04

Fairyliz · 10/09/2025 22:57

Genuine question, is there actually anyone in politics that is not actually dodgy and out for what they can get? If it’s not accepting freebies, fiddling the taxman, giving contracts to your mates, it’s associating with paedos.
No wonder the country is in a mess, it appears no one is actually working.

Yes, there are some.

I actually think Keir is in it for the right reasons. Unfortunately, he’s pretty useless and has no political instinct whatsoever.

OP posts: