Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper Condemns 'Vile' Mandelson Epstein Emails
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has publicly denounced emails exchanged between Lord Peter Mandelson and convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein as "vile" and stated they make her "so angry." Cooper made these remarks in an interview with Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby, conducted in Ukraine, just one day after Lord Mandelson was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police.
Mandelson's Arrest and Police Investigation
Lord Mandelson was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his tenure as business secretary in the 2000s. He was questioned by Metropolitan Police detectives for eight hours before being released on bail in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Prior to his arrest, police had searched the peer's residences in Wiltshire and Camden, north London. Mandelson has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Revelations from Epstein Emails
One of the emails released by the US Department of Justice reveals a disturbing exchange where Epstein, responding to Mandelson's inquiry about how it felt to be free from jail, stated "she feels fresh, firm and creamy," with Mandelson then calling him a "naughty boy." Cooper told Rigby that these emails are "just vile" and emphasized her anger over the situation.
Cooper's Actions and Criticism
Cooper revealed that she removed Peter Mandelson from his position as the UK's ambassador to the United States during her first week as foreign secretary. She asserted, "I've made my view clear, as has the prime minister, he should never have been appointed as the ambassador to the US." Mandelson was sacked in September 2025, just six days after Cooper assumed her role as foreign secretary, following the emergence of new information about his relationship with Epstein.
Background and Political Fallout
Lord Mandelson, 72, was appointed as the UK ambassador to the US by Sir Keir Starmer in the previous year, taking up the role in February 2025. His dismissal came after it was revealed he had maintained contact with Epstein post-conviction for paedophilia. Downing Street cited new information about the extent of their relationship as the reason for his removal. Mandelson has since resigned from the House of Lords amid increasing public and political scrutiny, particularly after the latest publication of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.
Broader Context and Related Arrests
Mandelson's arrest occurred four days after the King's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his links to Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor was released the same day and remains under investigation. Mandelson has been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary from 2008 to 2010 under Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Politicians in Washington have urged him to answer questions as part of their investigation into Epstein, following his appearance in documents published by a US Congress committee.
