Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson, the paedophile and the peer.
It was a friendship that endured even beyond Epstein’s convictions and one on Thursday that ended Lord Mandelson’s political career.
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When emails emerged of exchanges between the two men showing Lord Mandelson remaining supportive of Epstein even after he was convicted for the sex trafficking of underage girls, it was clear he had to go.
Lord Mandelson tried to cling on. The PM summarily relieved him of his duties.
There had initially been an appetite to keep him, in order to avoid embarrassing Donald Trump, who himself is being asked questions about his association with Epstein – and hates it.
But when these emails emerged, it was clear to No 10 that the scandal would blow up the state visit and Mandelson had to go.
But what was also true was that even attempting to keep him in these circumstances could blow up Sir Keir Starmer.
The parliamentary party – and particularly many of the women MPs – were absolutely furious that Mandelson had backed a convicted paedophile against women and girls who had, to quote one victim, been passed to men by Epstein like fruit trays.
The spectre of a powerful man like Mandelson trying to protect him and even the thought of the PM trying to row in behind was absolutely unconscionable.
As Harriet Harman said on our Electoral Dysfunction podcast before he was sacked: “These young women talked about the ruination of their lives by this man abusing his wealth and his power.
“And the…
