Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been removed from his honorary position at the Design Museum following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson was dismissed by PM Keir Starmer in September after details of his friendship with Epstein came to light. Besides losing his role at the Design Museum, Mandelson has also been stripped of honors by Manchester Metropolitan University and resigned as a fellow of an Oxford college. It has been revealed that Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein until 2016.
The Design Museum recently removed Mandelson’s profile from its website, where he was listed as a “Trustee Emeriti.” A spokesperson confirmed that Mandelson no longer holds any formal position at the museum and that his honorary role carried no active responsibilities. Correspondence from 2016 shows Mandelson exchanging emails with Epstein, advising him to stay away from Prince Andrew amid allegations of sexual abuse.
Mandelson’s connection with Epstein has led to various repercussions, including his removal from the Washington mission and the loss of his honorary positions. Before his removal, Mandelson had served as the Chairman of the Design Museum from 2017 to 2023. The museum, a registered charity, received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the previous fiscal year.
Despite expressing regret over his relationship with Epstein, Mandelson’s association with the disgraced financier continues to have repercussions on his professional engagements. He has been contacted for comment on these recent developments.
