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

Anniebach

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

That doesn't prove or not prove anything.

I am not sure why someone has to apologise for the misdeeds of a 'friend'! Even if he did I don't think it accounts for much.

I do wonder how often these people actually met, half a dozen times or hundreds? It may be that Epstein did compartmentalise his ‘friends’. As he is now dead I am surprised these people don’t make more use of that

Iam64

He believed a convicted sex offender. He encouraged and supported him. That insulted victims and played into the myths about child sexual exploitation. An acknowledgement of that would be appropriate

I agree with this on a personal level, but there is no law saying that wrongdoers must apologise, and in any case he has not been charged with anything.

I’m not saying he’s innocent, but we don’t know that he’s guilty of breaking the law, so his personal behaviour (for want of a better term) is up to him. I am not defending him, but I don’t see how there can be a law forcing people to apologise for association with others, and (at this stage) that’s all we know he has done.

Quote Iam64 Mon 12-Jan-26 09:48:58
Anniebach
Allegations of sexual abuse seems be guilty of all allegations
Epstein was convicted then continued his criminal behaviour. Died before trial

Maxwell is serving a long sentence for sexual offending alongside Epstei

Yes, I know Epstein died and Maxwell is imprisoned,

Anniebach

Allegations of sexual abuse seems be guilty of all allegations

Epstein was convicted then continued his criminal behaviour. Died before trial

Maxwell is serving a long sentence for sexual offending alongside Epstein

He believed a convicted sex offender. He encouraged and supported him. That insulted victims and played into the myths about child sexual exploitation. An acknowledgement of that would be appropriate

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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 ?

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

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.