PETER Mandelson joked with Jeffrey Epstein about marrying Princess Beatrice, with the paedophile financier calling it “incest”, according to leaked emails.
The exchange, which appears to date back to October 5, 2009, shows Epstein suggesting Mandelson “marry Princess Beatrice”, adding that “the queen would have a queen as a grandson”.
Mandelson appears to reply: “Remember, I am already her Lord President”, prompting Epstein to respond: “Does that make it incest, how exciting.”
The emails are among a tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice and have intensified scrutiny of Mandelson’s relationship with the disgraced paedophile financier.
Lord Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday after fresh revelations from the Epstein files, including a now-notorious photograph of him in his underwear while speaking to a woman in a white dressing gown.
It was today revealed the image was taken inside Epstein’s Paris apartment, dubbed the “House of Sin”.
MANDY PROBE
Mandelson reported to COPS over links with paedo Epstein
MANDY RESIGNS
Lord Mandelson resigns from Labour Party over Epstein links
Further questions were raised after the DOJ released another photograph showing Mandelson and Epstein relaxing together on a yacht.
In a previous statement, Mandelson said: “I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards.
“I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.”
It comes as…
Epstein’s emails have prompted mounting political pressure, with critics accusing Mandelson of inappropriate contact with the paedophile financier long after his 2008 conviction in the US.
Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer believes Mandelson “should not be a member of the House of Lords” and has asked the Cabinet Secretary to urgently review his correspondence with Epstein.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown has also called for a Cabinet Office investigation into the alleged disclosure of sensitive government information.
Lord Mandelson has yet to comment further today on the latest revelations.
The former Cabinet minister finally quit Labour amid criticism that party leader Sir Keir Starmer had failed to act sooner.
Sir Keir was branded “weak” by opponents for not removing Mandelson from the party earlier as the scale of the disclosures became clear.
Additional documents reportedly suggest Mandelson forwarded “confidential and market sensitive” Downing Street emails to Epstein in 2009, when he was Business Secretary.
The messages appear to show senior officials discussing the UK’s response to the Credit Crunch and which government assets might be considered “saleable”.
Other material seemingly shows Mandelson advising Epstein on how he and his powerful associates could lobby against a proposed bankers’ bonus tax.
In May 2010, after the general election but before the Coalition government took office, Mandelson also appeared to give Epstein advance notice of a €500billion Eurozone bailout.
What look to be bank records from 2003 and 2004 suggest Epstein wired tens of thousands of pounds to Mandelson, although the peer has said he believes the documents are fake and has no recollection of any such payments.
The Liberal Democrats and the SNP are now calling for police to investigate whether there is evidence of criminality in Mandelson’s actions.
Some MPs have also demanded his peerage be stripped, despite him already being on a leave of absence from the House of Lords and indicating he does not intend to return.
In a letter sent to Labour’s general secretary on Sunday night, Mandelson said he was stepping down to avoid causing further embarrassment to the party.
He wrote: “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this.”
Mandelson added: “I want to take this opportunity to repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now.”