Peter Mandelson has been stripped of his university honours after his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
Manchester Metropolitan University said it “no longer has any ties” with the former US ambassador, who was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer yesterday.
Lord Mandelson was given an honorary doctorate by the university in 2016 upon being appointed as Chancellor, a title he held until 2024.
A spokesman for the university said it has rescinded Lord Mandelson’s honorary awards “following the revelations that have come to light in recent days”.
His links to Epstein were said to have been discussed by the university during his time as Chancellor, when a photograph of the pair emerged.
The spokesman added: “At that time, we were reassured that there was no ongoing connection nor anything that would compromise Lord Mandelson’s position.”
He continued: “Our thoughts are with the victims who were subjected to the appalling crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and to all those who continue to be affected today.
“The University no longer has any ties with Lord Mandelson.”
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Manchester Metropolitan University said it ‘no longer has any ties’ with the ex-ambassador
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MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Lord Madelson was removed from his post as US ambassador after emails emerged in which the peer offered support to Epstein even as he faced jail for sex offences.
The Foreign Office said the emails showed the “depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”.
He was reported to have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison and told him, “I think the world of you,” the day before the disgraced financier began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Prior to the emergence of the emails, Sir Keir defended Lord Mandelson, saying he had “full confidence” in him and insisting he had gone through a proper vetting process.
Sir Keir Starmer defended Lord Mandelson prior to emails emerging in which the peer offered support to Epstein
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The Prime Minister is now facing questions over what he knew and when about the ex-ambassador’s ties to Epstein.
The chairwoman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee is demanding answers from the Foreign Secretary on the vetting process.
Dame Emily Thornberry has asked what security concerns were raised during the process, if the Foreign Office felt they represented a “potential barrier” to Lord Mandelson’s appointment and whether any conditions were imposed on his remit as ambassador.
She asked whether the Foreign Office or Downing Street decided to dismiss any security concerns that were raised or change the vetting requirements for Lord Mandelson.
In a letter to the newly-appointed Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, Dame Emily wrote: “It has been suggested by a number of media outlets that security concerns were overlooked during the appointments process, and that such decisions may have been taken by actors outside of the Foreign Office, perhaps senior people in No10.”
She said the allegations were “potentially very serious” and that the House of Commons must receive a “thorough response to a number of important unanswered questions”.
Sir Keir is also facing anger from Labour backbenchers, some of whom have raised questions about Sir Keir’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who was reported to have lobbied for Lord Mandelson’s initial appointment.
One Labour backbencher suggested the Mandelson scandal could be “terminal” for Mr McSweeney, but could also prove a serious problem for the Prime Minister.
Lord Mandelson said.following his sacking that being US ambassador was the ‘privilege of my life’
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They said: “I think Morgan McSweeney runs the show, and Keir just enables it and makes very bad decisions. I’m not sure how long this can continue though.”
Downing Street said on Friday that the Prime Minister still had confidence in Mr McSweeney’s judgement.
“Of course the Prime Minister has confidence in his top team,” a No10 spokesman said.