‘My best pal’: messages between Mandelson and Epstein suggest a close bond

The UK ambassador, fondly referred to as ‘Petie’ by the late financier and sex offender, stayed in contact with Epstein well after allegations about him came to light

Mandelson: more ‘very embarrassing details of Epstein friendship to come

Ever greater detail is emerging about Peter Mandelson’s closeness to Jeffrey Epstein, not least in a US court document listing a series of emails in which the late financier and sex offender refers to Lord Mandelson fondly as “Petie”.

The contact spans 2009 to 2011, after Epstein was convicted of child sex offences. There is, however, other evidence that the pair’s closeness was well established by then.