UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Peter Mandelson to resign from the House of Lords amid calls for reforms to enable peers to be stripped of their titles.
Following the release of emails between Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein, the cabinet secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, will conduct a review into Mandelson’s dealings as business secretary during his tenure.
Downing Street confirmed that the cabinet secretary has been asked to assess historical information relating to Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period in office.
The PM’s office has urged Mandelson, if called upon by the US Congress inquiry, to testify regarding the Epstein files.
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In a chat with journalists, Starmer’s spokesperson said: “The prime minister has asked for this to be urgently looked at. The prime minister believes that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title.
“However, the prime minister does not have the power to remove it. He is calling on those in the Lords to work with the government to modernise disciplinary procedures in the House, to allow for the easier removal of Lords who have brought the House into disrepute.”
The legislation allowing for the removal of a peer has not been applied since the First World War, and the government considers it complex to use in the current case.
Mandelson was removed from his post as UK ambassador to Washington last year following further disclosures about his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.
He resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday, stating that his decision was intended to prevent further embarrassment to the party.
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