On the Laura Kuensberg programme today, Mandelson refuses to apologise to victims of Rostein for continuing the friendship after Epstein’s conviction for sexual offences against a 14 year olc

butterandjam

Epstein and Guiffre died, reputedly by suicide.

No wonder a lot of people involved with Epstein are keeping their mouths tight shut.

Hundreds of women have come forward saying they are victims. I think you’re putting two and two together and making five. You may be right, but conflating alleged suicides with victims not coming forward is a stretch.

I suppose he was given a platform as he was British Ambassador to the US at a time when the POTUS has got the world talking about the possibility of WW3.

That he would be asked about Epstein was inevitable, and I'm surprised he didn't have a better answer ready. He wriggled a lot, I thought. I don't know what he had to gain by not apologising. I never find public apologies particularly convincing anyway, but it would have cost him nothing to say he was very sorry to have been associated in any way with what has turned out to be a disgraceful episode etc etc. He could apologise without admitting anything. I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't, but there will probably turn out to be one. His career is over, so I can't see it being that he hopes to get a lucrative job - what else could it be, I wonder?

Maybe he doesn't regret knowing Epstein.
Andrew MW couldn't express regret either, during his interview.
We just can't know.

True. But he didn't say that either.

We can't persecute people on the grounds of who their friends are, and this case (probably because of the enormity of it all) is showing a lot of that, I think.

Doodledog Sun 11-Jan-26 17:34:36 ✅️

Doodledog

I suppose he was given a platform as he was British Ambassador to the US at a time when the POTUS has got the world talking about the possibility of WW3.

That he would be asked about Epstein was inevitable, and I'm surprised he didn't have a better answer ready. He wriggled a lot, I thought. I don't know what he had to gain by not apologising. I never find public apologies particularly convincing anyway, but it would have cost him nothing to say he was very sorry to have been associated in any way with what has turned out to be a disgraceful episode etc etc. He could apologise without admitting anything. I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't, but there will probably turn out to be one. His career is over, so I can't see it being that he hopes to get a lucrative job - what else could it be, I wonder?

I think that’s a good comment, that it would have been better to say he was unaware of any wrong doing and counted Epstein as a friend but later realised what kind of man he was and was shocked.

I don't consider it necessary for Mandelson to apologise to Epstein's coterie of young women because I doubt he had anything to do with them, and as he appears to be a man entirely lacking moral judgement any apology would be worthless.

An apology should be made by whoever chose to appoint this disreputable, corrupt man as Ambassador to America, and I presume it was Starmer. He has been disgraced several times in his sordid past and found out yet again; what exactly is his special talent supposed to be? Some one said I think that he was able to talk the language Trump understands; is that a recommendation?
He remains to exert influence in the House of Lords and within the inner circle of Labour government, and shows no remorse about his connection , whatever it was, with Epstein, only for being found out.

I do remember saying at the time that the appointment of mandelson would last months and would end in massive embarrassment for the labour party. It was obvious to anyone who has observed the man for more than 5 minutes.

I don’t know what Starmer was thinking of to give him such an important job.

I could almost see Machiavellian Mandelson as a possibility in Trumpland.
I’m still angry/bewildered about why Starmer didn’t listen to the security services, who must have set out the timeline of Epstein’s convictions and the dreadful investigation that set out the extent of the allegations at that date.
That should have prevented Mandelson’s appointment. I’m disappointed (under statement) that Keir Starmer’s good work in improving the way the CPS investigated grooming gangs didn’t ensure he used his knowledge to run a mile from Mandelson,
Starmer must have been fully informed by security services - mustn’t he ?

Mandelson is' a nasty piece of work,' as the sayings go. There is 'much of the night' about him to quote another saying.

He has a history of lying and deceit and never being precisely what people think. It was Mandelson who used the phrase, so closely connected with Tony Blair's government
We are intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes , except that the last phrase as long as they pay their taxes got forgotten pretty quickly.

Mandelson's own finances have often been less than clear and I can well see that he would want to know Epstein and befriend him because, at the time, he was clearly making a lot of money for a lot of people.

I would also bet that he would be very willing to be very short sighted when visiting Epstein's home and island. I am uite prepared to accept that there were no obviously underage girls around when he was visiting, but I am sure that the general decoration and furnishing and stuff lying around, would tell its own story, to those inclined to see.

Unless Epstein operated strictly separate gatherings for his gay friends distinct from his heterosexual and bisexual friends then I don't believe Mandelson never saw any evidence of underage girls. Though to be honest I wouldn't believe Mandelson about anything, he's a proven liar. He must know where some of the bodies are buried to have got away with so much for so long.

Why is Laura K's programme on both BBC channels at the same time? I can't get away from the wretched woman. Does the Beeb think she is so wonderful everyone must watch her?

I also don't know why he didn't apologise unless he thought he would incriminate himself. He looked like a frightened animal.

He may be a clever man but not very wise.
The saying about James V1 the wisest fool in Christendom. could apply to this man too.

Maremia

Not defending Mandelson, but Epstein had a lot of political connections and moniesd 'friends'.
Perhaps that was the draw for Mandelson?

I'm surprised that anyone is surprised at anything Mandelson did, he always seemed very unpleasant.
I also wonder why the attention is guided away from the many very prominent Americans involved, Mandelson and AMW are being used to protect them by concentrating attention on these two Britons.

Iam64

I could almost see Machiavellian Mandelson as a possibility in Trumpland.
I’m still angry/bewildered about why Starmer didn’t listen to the security services, who must have set out the timeline of Epstein’s convictions and the dreadful investigation that set out the extent of the allegations at that date.
That should have prevented Mandelson’s appointment. I’m disappointed (under statement) that Keir Starmer’s good work in improving the way the CPS investigated grooming gangs didn’t ensure he used his knowledge to run a mile from Mandelson,
Starmer must have been fully informed by security services - mustn’t he ?

Starmer didn't need the security services to tell him about Mandelson, his previous record in the Blair government was well known. Did he gave something on Starmer to get the plum job?

Why should he apologise? He wasn't responsible for what happened. If he genuinely liked Epstein and regarded him as a friend, I see no reason why he couldn't continue their friendship. Clearly, the sexual side was separate from his business interests. At least he wasn't afraid that mud would stick.

I always assume that if something is plain to me then it will be more than obvious to those making important decisions, and that therefore there are things at play of we are unaware. This is one such case. Time may, or may not, bring whatever it was to light.

Mandelson is, or appears to be an odious man mired in scandal. Why he was given an international role above others is anyone’s guess, but it won’t be because everyone thought he was a thoroughly decent chap, will it?

Good point Lady Bridgerton, it seems to be only the British culprits who are (deservedly) being investigated.

Mandelson is very creepy, that's being kind. Of course he knew what was happening, just the name of the plane Epstein had was enough to send alarm bells ringing. There are so many rich and famous involved in ithey must have some agreement to say nothing or they will be involved, scary that married men with children knew or were involved in it., We will never find out the truth until someone involved dies and has written an account of it.

mum2three

Why should he apologise? He wasn't responsible for what happened. If he genuinely liked Epstein and regarded him as a friend, I see no reason why he couldn't continue their friendship. Clearly, the sexual side was separate from his business interests. At least he wasn't afraid that mud would stick.

* if he genuinely liked Epstein and regarded him as a friend, I see no reason why he shouldn’t continue their friendship *

Why would anyone continue a friendship with a man convicted of sex offences against a 14 year old? He says at that time he believed Epstein when he claimed to be the victim of the system. Today, Mandelson blames that system for letting victims down.

Mixing with convicted sex offenders, against whom many other allegations exist and continue to be made- it’s simply wrong.

mum2three

Why should he apologise? He wasn't responsible for what happened. If he genuinely liked Epstein and regarded him as a friend, I see no reason why he couldn't continue their friendship. Clearly, the sexual side was separate from his business interests. At least he wasn't afraid that mud would stick.

Why should he apologise. (mum2three Mon 12-Jan-26 05:30:14)

Exactly. We have the rule of law. Gossip - which is what many of these threads depend into - is irrelevant. What we do need is Trump's America to become less lawless as it affects the chances of the law to find justice.

Allegations of sexual abuse seems be guilty of all allegations

mum2three

Why should he apologise? He wasn't responsible for what happened. If he genuinely liked Epstein and regarded him as a friend, I see no reason why he couldn't continue their friendship. Clearly, the sexual side was separate from his business interests. At least he wasn't afraid that mud would stick.

Oh come on, Mandelson visited both Epstein's home and his love island, it was not a business relationship conducted entirely in offices and impersonal places.

From what we have been told and the photo we have seen, Epstein's private ocupations were not separate from his business interests and the whole decor, furniture and stuff lying around would make it self evident what Epstein's interests were, unless Mandelson is blind - and even in business, a person's [rivate interests are well known and Epstein and his Madame, Ghiselle Maxwell were constantly holding parrties and entertaining everyone who could be useful to them.

No photographs of Mandelson at royal residences with Epstein and Maxwell ?