Peter Mandelson resigns from Lords after Epstein email leak scandal

Peter Mandelson resigns from Lords after Epstein email leak scandal

Briefly

"The move came as Keir Starmer said he had handed a dossier to the police after it emerged Mandelson had sent a string of emails to Epstein containing briefings he received as business secretary under Gordon Brown, including action the government was taking to deal with the global financial crisis. Starmer told a meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday morning he was appalled by the reported leaks and had also asked officials to draft legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage as quickly as possible."

"The prime minister told the cabinet he found it incomprehensible that more could not be done to strip peers of their titles for poor behaviour. The prime minister believes there is a broader need for the House of Lords to be able to remove transgressors more quickly, his spokesperson said. The prime minister regards it as ridiculous that a peerage cannot be removed except with primary legislation, something that has not happened since 1917."

"Mandelson's departure was announced by the speaker of the House of Lords, meaning he will no longer be a member of the house from Wednesday, though he will retain his title, which can only be removed by an act of parliament. The prime minister told the cabinet he found it incomprehensible that more could not be done to strip peers of their titles for poor behaviour."