Editorial: The claims against Peter Mandelson are of a new magnitude to other allegations in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal

The Jeffrey Epstein saga moved to a whole new level 48 hours ago.

Formerly it was principally about the judgement of famous men in staying friends with the disgraced financier.

First there was the question of them being friendly with the man at all, but for others it was also why they remained friends after he was convicted of sexual activities with under age girls. In some other cases, there was a claim that these men themselves had sex with women, some of whom were either under-age or trafficked.

This newspaper questioned earlier this week by Senator George Mitchell was being treated by Queen’s University and others as if he was also disgraced when it was not even clear whether he had remained friends with Mr Epstein after his conviction. There are suggestions in some emails that he did stay in touch, but not clear proof.

Other material around the Epstein friendships with men such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Bill Clinton and Bill Gates has been grisly enough.

But the revelations with regard to the former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Mandelson are of a different magnitude. Mr Mandelson has himself cited being gay as proof that he had no interest in the many young women brought to the Epstein parties. That excuse is no use to him now, given that the charge against the ex Labour MP are not sexual, but of divulging confidential UK government information after the financial crash for monetary gain – a shocking claim.

Sir Keir Starmer said yesterday he was “sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him” UK ambassador to Washington. But Mr Mandelson had twice in the past had to leave the UK cabinet, including as NI secretary, after controversial dealings with wealthy men.

The PM’s judgement is already looking awful, even before papers around the ambassadorial appointment are released.