Hull’s political leaders have moved to sever the city’s ties with Lord Mandelson after he was removed as UK ambassador to the United States over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross, and the Leader of the council’s Labour group, Councillor Daren Hale, along with the council’s Independent Group, have jointly called for Lord Mandelson to be stripped of his post of High Steward of Hull.
In a statement, Councillor Ross said: “In light of recent developments, with agreement from the other political groups on the council, we will put forward a motion at next week’s Full Council meeting calling for the High Steward role to be removed from Lord Mandelson.”
The motion is due to be tabled at the next Full Council meeting on Thursday 18 September, starting at 10am.
The city’s intervention follows a dramatic day in Westminster in which Keir Starmer sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. The Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that Lord Mandelson had not disclosed the extent and depth of his friendship with Epstein, a convicted child sex offender, when he was appointed as the ambassador. He said No 10 had not known about emails from Mandelson to Epstein suggesting his 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution was wrongful and should be challenged.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador. “The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment. In particular, Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.
“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”
Before Mandelson’s departure was announced, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, told an event that he was “completely disgusted” by messages Mandelson sent to Epstein and that his future was “a decision for the prime minister”.
Government sources said Starmer took the decision during a meeting with Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, on Thursday morning, after reviewing the new material on Mandelson’s defence of Epstein the previous night. It is understood Mandelson himself had not, until the leak, had access to the emails written in 2008 because they came from a long-deleted account.
Mandelson’s departure comes at a difficult time for No 10 as it prepares a state visit for the US president, Donald Trump, who is facing his own questions about his friendship with Epstein. It is understood that James Roscoe, the deputy head of mission in Washington, will be interim ambassador and supervise the state visit.
Both David Miliband, a former Labour foreign secretary, and Cathy Ashton, a former EU commissioner, were previously on the shortlist for the US ambassador job. Karen Pierce, who held the job before Mandelson, is among those who could be asked to return. The episode will raise questions about Starmer’s judgment in having appointed Mandelson, given it was known that the ambassador had continued his association with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, called for Starmer to come to parliament to explain what he knew and when, while Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said: “Mandelson might have gone but, just as with Angela Rayner, Starmer dithered when he needed to be decisive. Time and again he puts party above country. He has no backbone and no convictions.”
The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, said Starmer’s “judgment, his reputation and his authority are now on the line”.
Some Labour MPs are furious about yet another political blunder in the week after Rayner had to resign as deputy prime minister over her tax affairs. However, Harriet Harman, the former Labour deputy leader, suggested the blame lay with Mandelson, and said it was “shameful” that the politician had put himself forward for the job knowing that such emails had been written and that there was more to come out about their friendship.
The ambassadorial role of High Steward dates back to 1853. After the reorganisation of Local Government in 1974 saw the role end, HM Queen Elizabeth II gave permission in 2013 to reinstate the role. The position may only be held by a Lord, who is expected to act as a highly placed lobbyist for the interests of the city.
