Peter Mandelson admitted he continued his relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for many years during his vetting interview.
The former senior Labour adviser was sacked as the UK Ambassador to the US on Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister defended him in the Commons.
Allies of Mandelson said he told interviewers in the vetting process that he had carried on his relationship with the notorious paedophile for many years and deeply regretted doing so.
Lord Mandelson’s sacking came after 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”, the Foreign Office said.
He was reported to have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and told him “I think the world of you” the day before the disgraced financier began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein had been known about, but Bloomberg and The Sun published emails showing that the relationship continued after his crimes had emerged.
One cabinet minister told The Times: “It was obvious from the start that he [Mandelson] was the wrong choices…It was just a matter of time. It’s so damaging.”
Several Labour’s MPs openly took aim at the Prime Minister’s handling of the scandal.
Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker, who initially stood for the party’s deputy leadership, criticised the “delay” in dismissing Mandelson.
She said: “The delay in sacking him has only served to further erode the trust and confidence in our government and politics in the round…We must be better.”
Lord Mandelson’s deputy, James Roscoe, will be the interim ambassador to the US and has taken over with immediate effect.
The Conservatives called for full disclosure on who in Downing Street knew what about Lord Mandelson’s links with Epstein, while the Liberal Democrats demanded a review of vetting procedures.
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