The Prince of Darkness Peter Mandelson’s worst controversies | UK | News | EUROtoday

The divisive Lord Mandelson who now finds himself embroiled so deeply within the Epstein recordsdata fallout has lengthy proved a thorn within the aspect of right-minded Britain, having been a central participant within the New Labour motion since he represented Hartlepool as MP from 1992 to 2004.

After establishing himself because the Party’s chief “spin-doctor” by orchestrating media operations inside the champagne socialist, predominantly North London political institution, and regardless of early and widely-reported allegations of sleaze, this public opinion manipulator went on to occupy a number of Cabinet roles below Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and served because the EU’s Trade Commissioner from 2004 to 2008.

Recognised for his tactical media administration mixed for a pointy acumen for sealing a deal, the “Prince of Darkeness” as he got here to be recognized, was elevated to the peerage in 2008 as Baron Mandelson. He held the place of UK Ambassador to the US briefly in 2025 earlier than dropping his put up following recent examination of his continued connections to the convicted US paedophile and businessman Jeffrey Epstein.

On Sunday, Mandelson was compelled to resign from the get together he devoted his political life to, following the most recent bombshell Epstein file launch, which indicated he had acquired tens of hundreds of {dollars} from the wicked pervert throughout the peak of the Tony Blair authorities.

The Express has invited Lord Madelson to remark.

Mandelson’s final fall has been a lot swifter than his climb. However, his profession has been rocked by a collection of alleged improprities, probably the most controversial have been rounded up right here.

Read on to be taught the total sordid historical past.

Undisclosed Home Loan (1998)

Just a 12 months after New Labour swept to energy, it emerged that Mandelson had didn’t declare a £373,000 mortgage he took from Geoffrey Robinson, the paymaster basic, when securing a £150,000 mortgage to buy a £475,000 property in Notting Hill, west London.

Tory MP Richard Bacon, a member of the Commons public accounts committee, stated: “As a Cabinet minister, Lord Mandelson earned a decent wage and more when he was at the European Commission. But it is a matter of considerable public interest how he can afford such an expensive home within barely a year of leaving government. Given his previous history over an undeclared home loan, I would have thought he would understand the need to be open and transparent on this issue.” The scandal compelled him to stop as commerce secretary.

Hinduja Passport Scandal (2001)

Despite the furore, inside 12 months he was reinstated to authorities, assuming the function of Northern Ireland secretary.

However, his tenure resulted in ignomity but once more, when in January 2001 he stepped down amid allegations of misconduct relating to a passport software for the exceedingly weathly Indian-origin Hinduja brothers. An inquiry subsequently exonerated him of any wrongdoing.

His fury at being compelled out erupted later that 12 months when he retained his Hartlepool constituency seat, regardless of going through challenges from different left-wing candidates. Delivering a unprecedented and emotional victory speech, he stated: “It was said that I was facing political ruin. My career in tatters, apparently never to be part of the political living again.”

“Well, they underestimated Hartlepool. And they underestimated me. Because I am fighter and not a quitter!”

Two years on, he resigned as an MP to take up a place referring to his different pet political undertaking: the EU.

The “Oligarch Yacht” Scandal (2008)

In October 2008, Peter Mandelson got here below fierce scrutiny over personal encounters with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, notably a summer time 2008 gathering on his yacht off Corfu, sparking battle of curiosity issues as Mandelson was the EU Trade Commissioner. Mandelson said he provided no favours, defending the conferences as routine engagement with enterprise leaders. Despite his broadly publicised loathing for Mandelson over his failure to again him over Blair for management of the get together stretching again to the 1990’s, Prime Minister Gordon Brown deemed the dealings “above board.”

‘Extraordinary’ insult in opposition to go away voters (2018)

Speaking on LBC radio, the by then former EU commerce commissioner unleashed a tirade in opposition to Leave supporters, claiming they despise foreigners. He alleged they had been motivated by “nationalism which is not to be confused with patriotism”. He continued: “Patriotism is love of your country, wanting to stand up for your country, wanting to serve the best interests of your country. Nationalism, on the other hand, is hatred of foreigners.” Critics labeled his feedback “extraordinary” and “shameful” for defaming 17 million voters.

The Palantir Defence Contract (2025)

Last week, the Express reported intimately on how Palantir secured a “record” £240 million take care of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in late 2025, forming a part of a wider, extra in depth, and infrequently undisclosed, £670m+ bundle of agreements with the UK authorities. Peter Mandelson performed a big function with Global Counsel, a consultancy that lobbied for Palantir and was was seen as enabling the agency’s entry to the Starmer authorities. The tight relationship between the UK authorities and Palantir attracted fierce scrutiny owing to Palantir’s connections to Donald Trump (through co-founder Peter Thiel) and its participation in contentious AI-powered navy surveillance.

As Mandelson’s slimy rise and slippery fall have been documented over time, it appears extraordinary that he might have lasted this lengthy. Let’s hope this sorry newest scandal referring to Epstein would be the final we hear of the Prince of Darkness.