What happened in Parliament as Mandelson was sacked?published at 11:43 British Summer Time
11:43 BST
Image source, ParliamentTVImage caption,
Neil O’Brien asked about Mandelson during an urgent question earlier
About an hour ago, we were preparing to hear an urgent question about Mandelson’s appointment.
Neil O’Brien was the one granted the question.
He asked if Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper “will make a statement on the process of the appointment of the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States.”
Foreign minister Stephen Doughty, who was standing in the commons on Cooper’s behalf, said: “In light of additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador to the United States.
“The emails show, Mr Speaker, that the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment. In particular, Mr Speaker, Lord Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.
“In light of that, Mr Speaker, and mindful as we all are of the victims of Epstein’s appalling crimes, he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”