Lord Peter Mandelson has announced his resignation from the Labour Party to avoid more controversy surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, who was dismissed as the US ambassador last year due to his previous connections to Epstein, stated that he has submitted his resignation to the Labour Party’s general secretary, Hollie Ridley.

The decision comes after recent revelations from the Epstein files suggesting that Epstein made payments totaling $75,000 (£55,000) to Mandelson in 2003 and 2004 while Mandelson was a Labour MP. In a letter, Mandelson expressed regret about the allegations, claiming they are false and require further investigation.

Mandelson emphasized his commitment to the Labour Party but stated that he does not want to bring more embarrassment to the party, hence his decision to step down. The latest documents released by the US Department of Justice show a payment of $25,000 to Mandelson’s husband in 2003, with two additional payments of $25,000 each to different accounts in Mandelson’s name in 2004.

Regarding the payments, Mandelson stated that he has no recollection of receiving them and expressed regret for ever being associated with Epstein. Images of Mandelson with Epstein have been made public, but being featured in the Epstein files does not imply wrongdoing.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called on Keir Starmer to suspend Mandelson’s Labour Party membership and investigate the situation further. Communities Secretary Steve Reed urged Mandelson to clarify any remaining lack of disclosure concerning his connections to Epstein. Reed emphasized the need for a thorough understanding of the situation before considering any actions like stripping Mandelson of his peerage.

The Labour Party stated that all complaints are taken seriously and investigated according to their rules and procedures.