The SNP has called for Sir Keir Starmer to “stop the delays” and remove Peter Mandelson’s peerage and £75,000 “golden goodbye”.
It comes as the Prime Minister is set to face questions from MPs after thousands of newly released documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the United States exposed cracks in his Government.
Previously released files show Lord Mandelson was given a £75,000 payout after being sacked from the US role by Sir Keir over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan said Scottish families are “paying the price for Starmer’s mistake”.
He said: “Keir Starmer must stop the delays and act immediately to remove Peter Mandelson’s peerage and taxpayer-funded £75,000 golden goodbye pay-off.
“Scottish taxpayers will be appalled to hear that the Labour Government has allowed Mandelson to retain his peerage and titles, and that taxpayers are still being forced to foot the bill for his pay-off and pension, despite everything we now know.
“Mandelson should never have been appointed and nine months have now passed since the Prime Minister was shamed into sacking him. There is no excuse for Starmer’s failure to act – it is yet another broken promise, which has left Scottish families paying the price for Starmer’s mistake.”
On Monday, new documents revealed private messages between Lord Mandelson and senior ministers in which they admitted their frustrations with Sir Keir’s leadership and the heart of Government.
The Prime Minister has been under pressure since he sacked Lord Mandelson in September 2025 after leaked emails showed the peer sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences.
While Lord Mandelson has voluntarily agreed not to attend the House of Lords, he retains his peerage and titles, which can only be removed if the UK Government passes legislation.
Mr Doogan continued: “Keir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson despite it being a matter of public record that he had maintained his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the world’s most notorious paedophile, and despite knowing that Mandelson had previously been forced to resign from government multiple times due to his role in numerous scandals.
“It’s now clear that Starmer is on his way out. He must decide whether he wants to break yet another promise as he heads through the exit door.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We have been clear that Peter Mandelson should not remain a peer.
“We have set out a clearer process to remove peerages in serious cases through the introduction of the Peerages Bill in the King’s Speech, under which Peter Mandelson will be in scope.”
