It’s one thing for politicians to cross paths with shady characters—it comes with the territory.
But it’s another entirely when those connections raise serious questions about judgment, taste, and morality.
Recent documents emerging from the United States have spotlighted a deeply troubling friendship: Peter Mandelson, Britain’s current ambassador to Washington and a former Labour Cabinet minister, appears to have considered convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein his “best pal.”
For anyone familiar with Mandelson’s reputation as the so-called “Prince of Darkness,” the nickname suddenly seems almost too apt.
Epstein, of course, was no ordinary rogue—he was a convicted sex trafficker, widely seen as a predator, and reportedly died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting further charges.
The Birthday Book That Raises Eyebrows
The details come from a so-called “birthday book” compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, recently released by the US Congress.
In it, Mandelson doesn’t just call Epstein “my best pal”—he lavishes praise in a way that feels almost courtly, describing the convicted paedophile as “mysterious” and “an intelligent, sharp-witted man” who had “parachuted into my life.”
Mandelson’s words are accompanied by unsettling photographs: one shows him in a bathrobe, smiling and chatting with Epstein; another depicts him topless on a balcony.
A third photo shows him standing near a young woman in minimal clothing, a scene that, while reportedly common in Epstein’s household, is striking in its dissonance with everyday norms.
Mandelson wraps up his tribute with a flourish: “Happy birthday, Jeffrey. We love you!”
A Friendship That Raises Hard Questions
It’s important to note that there’s no allegation of Mandelson engaging in illegal or sexual activity with Epstein.
His personal preferences are well-known and clearly unrelated.
But the reasons Epstein might have been drawn to him—his wealth, influence, and connections—remain a matter of speculation.
Only Mandelson himself can truly know why he earned Epstein’s friendship.
At the time, Mandelson was a Labour MP, having previously been sacked twice from Cabinet by Tony Blair for ethical breaches, and was on the cusp of becoming Britain’s European Commissioner.
Even though Epstein had not yet been formally investigated by police in 2003, rumors of his misconduct were already circulating.
A prudent person might have steered clear, yet Mandelson did not.
Patterns of Flattery and Risk
Mandelson’s attraction to powerful and wealthy individuals is well-documented.
Over the years, he has befriended multi-millionaires and billionaires—from the Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, from whom he borrowed £373,000 without declaration, to the Indian billionaire Hinduja brothers, Paul Allen of Microsoft, Nat Rothschild, and Russian industrialist Oleg Deripaska.
Money, power, and influence seem to have consistently drawn him in, sometimes to politically embarrassing or ethically questionable situations.
Now, this same tendency has placed him in close proximity to one of the most notorious figures of recent times.
Questions of Judgment and Accountability
As a diplomat, Mandelson may feel insulated from scrutiny, but the British public deserves answers.
He has admitted to Sky News that he wishes he had “never met” Epstein, but he has not explained why the friendship formed in the first place or how long it continued after 2003.
This episode underscores a recurring pattern: Mandelson’s mix of ambition, attraction to wealth, and taste for powerful company has repeatedly brought him into morally and politically risky territory.
Once again, it leaves observers asking: why did the Prince of Darkness cultivate such a close relationship with someone so clearly abhorrent?