Lord Mandelson has quit the Labour Party after new documents released in files connected to Jeffrey Epstein revealed the New Labour Cabinet Minister received $75,000 from the convicted paedophile.

The ex-UK Ambassador to the US said he decided to resign his Labour Party membership to avoid causing “further embarrassment” following further revelations about his friendship with Epstein.

In his letter, Lord Mandelson to Labour’s general-secretary Hollie Ridley said: “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this.

“Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me.

“While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party.”

The 72-year-old, who was sacked as US Ambassador last year, featured in documents released by the US Department of Justice on Friday.

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