Peter Mandelson

Peter Benjamin Mandelson (born 21 October 1953) is a British politician. Until 2026, he represented the Labour Party. He helped to found the 'New Labour' project with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 until 2004.

His reputation led to him earning the nickname the "Prince of Darkness". He is often credited for driving the Labour Party to power in 1997.

During his parliamentary career, Mandelson was sacked twice. Once in 1998 for not declaring a loan he was given to buy a house, and again in 2001 for trying to arrange a passport for an Indian businessman who had given £1,000,000 to the Labour Party.

After Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, he made Mandelson a Life Peer. Despite his career being rocked by scandal, many outlets continued to call him "the most powerful man in the Labour Party".

In February 2025, he became the British Ambassador to the United States. 

He was then fired for the third time in his political career by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in September 2025, following The Sun's publication of supportive emails Mandelson had sent to convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein after his arrest in 2008.

Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party in February 2026 as further links between himself and Epstein emerged. On 23 February 2026, Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released on bail.

Mandelson is gay and was outed in 1998 by openly gay journalist Matthew Parris.BBC to replay clip of Mandelson being outed

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Category:1953 births
Category:Living people
Category:European Commissioners
Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs
Category:Members of the British House of Commons for English constituencies
Category:Gay men
Category:British LGBT politicians
Category:Politicians from London
Category:UK MPs 1992–1997
Category:UK MPs 1997–2001
Category:UK MPs 2001–2005
Category:Labour Life Peers
Category:Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland