Lord Peter Mandelson is set to lose the Freedom of Hartlepool honor following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision was made by councillors who unanimously voted to strip him of the title. This action comes after Lord Mandelson was dismissed as a US ambassador due to leaked messages suggesting his support for Epstein following the latter’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.
Emails obtained by Bloomberg revealed that Lord Mandelson urged Epstein to seek early release and expressed admiration for him shortly before Epstein began serving his prison sentence. This close relationship with Epstein led to Lord Mandelson losing several honors previously awarded to him by Manchester Metropolitan University.
The motion to remove Lord Mandelson’s honorary title highlighted the incompatibility of his association with Epstein with the values and dignity of the honor. It emphasized that failing to revoke the title could harm the reputation of Hartlepool. Lord Mandelson expressed regret over his past ties with Epstein and the suffering of Epstein’s victims, acknowledging the impact of his association with Epstein two decades ago.
This decision underscores the council’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the highest civic honor granted by the borough of Hartlepool.