The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein has returned to haunt the Labour Party, triggering a civil war as Health Secretary Wes Streeting unleashes a scathing attack on Lord Peter Mandelson.

"Bitterly betrayed." With those two words, Wes Streeting has detonated a political grenade within the British government. The revelation that Mandelson, a grandee of the party and former US Ambassador, may have compromised national interests through his association with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has left the party reeling.

This is not just about historical gossip; it is an active infection in the heart of Keir Starmer’s administration. Mandelson was meant to be the elder statesman guiding Labour back to power and global respectability. Instead, he has become a radioactive liability. Streeting’s intervention—unusually visceral for a serving Cabinet minister—signals that the current leadership is scrambling to distance itself from the toxic legacy of the Blair-Brown era.

The Anatomy of Betrayal

Streeting did not mince words during his media rounds today. He accused Mandelson of betraying "two prime ministers, our country, and Epstein's victims." The ferocity of the attack suggests a party in panic mode, desperate to inoculate itself against the coming fallout. The Metropolitan Police have now launched a criminal investigation into potential misconduct in public office, raising the stakes from political scandal to criminal inquiry.

The "betrayal" stems from leaked files suggesting Mandelson provided Epstein with sensitive information during the financial crisis. For a party that prides itself on public service, the image of a senior figure trading state secrets with a sex offender is a stain that no amount of spin can wash away.

• The Investigation: The Met Police are probing "misconduct in public office" regarding Mandelson's communications.
• The Defense: Streeting defended deleting past photos with Mandelson, citing the need to protect others in the images, not just to rewrite history.
• The Fallout: The scandal threatens to overshadow the government's agenda, dragging Starmer into a defensive posture on ethics.

A Party Divided

The anger in Streeting's voice reflects the mood of the rank-and-file Labour members who feel their victory is being tarnished by the sins of the past. There is a palpable sense of disgust that while they knocked on doors to rebuild trust, the "Prince of Darkness" was allegedly dancing with the devil.

As the investigation unfolds, Starmer faces a brutal choice: cut Mandelson loose completely and risk the wrath of his powerful network, or try to weather the storm and risk being dragged down with him. For now, Streeting has made the government's position clear: Mandelson is on his own.