Mandelson believed Epstein over victims and should go

One too many scandals involving this man, he should be gone for good now.

He's vile, and always has been. And about as far removed from the values of the Labour Party as it's possible to get.

Good, so glad to see he has gone!

Well done, Keir, if a bit slow.

https://x.com/hzeffman/status/1966075803520966999

'From the Foreign Office: In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as Ambassador. The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment. In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect.'

He's gone.

Pretty sure that PM would recognise exploitation when he saw it.

I do not think that everyone who had some involvement with Epstein did so in relation to his sex parties or knew a lot about them - I think he was canny enough to offer important people what they wanted, be it sex, drugs, luxury holidays, whatever..

However, I really don't think that applies to this guy. I think he knew what was going on.

I am not surprised a gay man would approve of relations of older men with much younger people though, and might fail to see where that was exploitative. It's a common blind spot in certain circles.

Ambassadors are a sensitive position though. It may be he will go soon but they will do it in a way that is less likely to rock the boat. Maybe pressure him to resign.

I think it's more likely the latter.

I think he has to go for the same reason that Prince Andrew's continued relationship with Epstein disqualified him from representing Britain, regardless of what happened between him and Virginia Giuffre.

The striking thing is that all these men knew what Epstein was like. They just couldn't make the leap to seeing the girls as human.

Yes, he should go. Not least of which is if he doesn’t, it will mean that working class women are sacked when posh men aren’t. But it is a bugger, because he is just the sort of man Trump is impressed by.

PM’s “yum yum” was about houses and money. He has shown before that they are his favorite things

If it follows the same pattern of his previous sackings then he'll just slither away quietly and then pop up again in twenty years like a fucking machiavellian Jack in the box.

KS has no choice but to get rid. Else he's a massive hypocrite, getting tough on grooming gangs here whilst supporting a man who professes his love for a child sex trafficker.
Wonder what he'll choose to do.

I think he will have to go. Yet another error of judgment, and one which disgusts the vast majority of our people. The challenge is that if/when the decision is taken, it will be a clear divergence from the path of the White House. And will be taken as an insult by them. I still think he should go, but it won’t be an easy decision and will likely damage UK/US relations.

Hope he goes downs squealing, dragging other sinister bastards with him.

I totally agree.
it would have been a bigger surprise if Keir "I believe that a woman can have a penis" Starmer had sacked him.

I was also agog at the woe is me tone of his defence because he was apparently lied to very convincingly by a convicted sex offender 🙄.

Unfortunately this appears to be an accurate summary.

Yep.

I'm sure kier will be proud of him, will stand by him until he quits, I'm seeing a repeating theme here. A fish rots from the head.

That's disgusting. I think we all know what he means.
It's a pity there isn't a petition.

One of the Deputy Leader candidates was on Newsnight about it and the BBC stated that a lot of Labour backbenchers are kicking off about it too. Seems to be a very different response to this case of paedophilia.

I agree.
Although it is in the national interest to manage trump as best we can there must be a line we cannot cross otherwise we become as mired in filth as he is.

Exactly. Am a newish foreigner here and just read up about Peter Mandelsons resignations in the past. The man likes rich men and is vulnerable to them. Asking loans, shady passports, cuddling up to rich sex pests. It sounds like show him a rich man and he will be purring like a cat. Is that the character the uk wants to represent them ever but especially now?

If Rayner had to go then Mandelson should have to.
He's been kept there because of his friendly relationship with trump, who's volatile. But that shouldn't mean a person who carries on having a relationship with a convicted paedophile should remain in a job with such importance. He's representing the UK.

‘Yum, yum’ indeed.