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  "path": "/politics/peter-mandelson-foreign-office-launches-review-five-figure-ambassador-payoff",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-08T00:26:45.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "removed from his role",
    "carried out searches",
    "latest tranche of US government documents",
    "Labour ally sparks fiery clash over 'outrageous' defence of Keir Starmer amid Peter Mandelson row",
    "Gordon Brown slams PM for being 'too slow' on Mandelson and warns: 'Clean up or pay heavy price'",
    "Angela Rayner told Keir Starmer 'not to appoint Lord Mandelson', allies claim",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe Foreign Office has launched a review into Lord Mandelson’s severance package following fresh damaging revelations contained in the Jeffrey Epstein files.\n\nThe ex-Labour peer was removed from his role as Britain’s ambassador to Washington in September, just seven months after taking up the high-profile post.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAccording to the Times, his exit payment could be worth up to £55,000 before tax, based on a three-month settlement calculated at the top diplomatic service pay band.\n\nAllies of Sir Keir Starmer are now urging that the taxpayer-funded payout made to Lord Mandelson be returned or donated to charity.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n“Given what we know now, Mandelson should either pay the money back or give it to a charity to support victims,” a Downing Street source said.\n\nMetropolitan Police officers have carried out searches at two properties linked to Lord Mandelson as part of an investigation into suspected misconduct in public office.\n\nThe searches were conducted at his Camden home in north London and at a second property in Wiltshire.\n\nDeputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart affirmed that the probe would be extensive.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nShe said: “This will be a complex investigation requiring a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis.\n\n\"It will take some time to do this work comprehensively and we will not be providing a running commentary.\"\n\nThe criminal probe was launched after the latest tranche of US government documents relating to Epstein was released.\n\nThe files include email correspondence raising questions over whether Lord Mandelson shared market-sensitive information with the convicted paedophile financier during the 2008 financial crisis.\n\n### THE MANDELSON SCANDAL - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * Labour ally sparks fiery clash over 'outrageous' defence of Keir Starmer amid Peter Mandelson row\n  * Gordon Brown slams PM for being 'too slow' on Mandelson and warns: 'Clean up or pay heavy price'\n  * Angela Rayner told Keir Starmer 'not to appoint Lord Mandelson', allies claim\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDocuments released by American authorities suggest the peer may have warned Epstein in advance about a €500billion (£434.3million) EU bailout aimed at stabilising the eurozone in 2010.\n\nAt the time, Lord Mandelson was serving as a senior minister in Gordon Brown’s government.\n\nAnother document from the cache includes a 2009 memo written by Nick Butler, then a senior Downing Street adviser, outlining concerns about Britain’s economic position and proposing the sale of state assets to strengthen public finances.\n\nAnger in Westminster has intensified since the disclosures, with the files appearing to suggest that sensitive government information was passed to Epstein while Lord Mandelson was in office.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOn Saturday, leading corporate and financial crime barrister Adrian Darbishire KC was seen arriving at Lord Mandelson’s home near Regent’s Park, leaving around 90 minutes later.\n\nLord Mandelson has previously admitted he was wrong to maintain contact with Epstein following his 2008 conviction.\n\n“I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards,” he said.\n\n“I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.”\n\nThe peer continues to maintain he committed no criminal wrongdoing and did not act for financial gain.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Foreign Office launches review into Peter Mandelson’s five-figure US ambassador payoff"
}