Epstein Files EXPLODE: Mandelson's Firm Boss FLEES as Scandal Devours Legacy!

The Jeffrey Epstein scandal detonates again! Global Counsel CEO Benjamin Wegg-Prosser resigns, cutting ties with Peter Mandelson's firm. 'This association... was doing the business harm,' sources reveal. The elite's dark secrets are exposed.
By Newsroom | Politics, Business |

The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files continues to send shockwaves through the UK's political and business elite, with the chief executive of a prominent lobbying firm, co-founded by former Labour minister Peter Mandelson, announcing his resignation. This dramatic exit underscores the deepening crisis surrounding associations with the convicted sex offender, forcing individuals and institutions to sever ties and re-evaluate past connections.

The latest casualty in this ongoing scandal is Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, CEO of Global Counsel, the firm he established with Lord Mandelson in 2010. Wegg-Prosser's departure, confirmed Friday, comes as the Epstein files reveal apparent links between his company and the disgraced financier. The firm itself has moved to cut all ties with Mandelson, divesting his shares and emphasizing his complete detachment from the business. This development follows a series of intense pressures, including the withdrawal of Barclays as a client, indicating a significant reputational damage for Global Counsel.

A Tangled Web: Mandelson, Epstein, and the Business of Influence

The association between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein, while now a major liability, appears to have roots stretching back over a decade. Mandelson, a seasoned political strategist often dubbed "the Prince of Darkness" for his media manipulation skills, left front-line politics in 2001. It was in 2010 that he co-founded Global Counsel with Wegg-Prosser, a former Number 10 aide, aiming to leverage their political connections for corporate clients.

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The surfacing of documents detailing Epstein's connections to influential figures has inevitably drawn scrutiny to Mandelson. While Mandelson has maintained he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein truthfully during vetting processes and insists he has done nothing wrong, the sheer volume of revelations has proven too much for his business partners and political allies.

  • Key Players:

  • Peter Mandelson: Co-founder of Global Counsel, former Labour minister, now facing pressure to leave the House of Lords.

  • Benjamin Wegg-Prosser: CEO of Global Counsel, recently resigned due to the Epstein revelations.

  • Jeffrey Epstein: Convicted sex offender whose recently released files have exposed numerous high-profile connections.

  • Sir Keir Starmer: Current Labour leader and Prime Minister, who previously appointed and then dismissed Mandelson from an ambassadorial role due to his Epstein ties.

  • Global Counsel: The lobbying firm co-founded by Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser, now severing all ties with Mandelson.

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The current crisis is not a sudden implosion but rather a cascading effect of disclosures. Wegg-Prosser's decision to resign, as reported by the Financial Times and confirmed by the BBC, stems from the belief that his "long-standing association with Lord Mandelson — and references to them both in the Epstein files — was doing the business harm." This pragmatic, if belated, recognition of reputational risk has led to the ultimate consequence for a business leader.

Past Echoes: A Pattern of Association and Scrutiny

This is not the first time Lord Mandelson's ties to Epstein have surfaced, nor the first time they have caused significant political fallout. As early as 2019, reports linked Mandelson to Epstein, leading to questions about his proximity to the financier. However, the recent release of the Epstein files, particularly in the United States, has amplified these concerns with a new intensity.

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  • Timeline of Scrutiny:

  • 2019: Initial reports emerge linking Mandelson to Epstein, raising questions about their relationship.

  • Early 2020s: Mandelson appointed as an ambassador by then-leader Sir Keir Starmer, a role he later lost due to earlier Epstein revelations.

  • Recent (exact date unspecified but prior to Sept 2025): Global Counsel begins the process of divesting Mandelson's multi-million pound stake, with filings in June 2025 showing he still held 21%.

  • September 2025 (approx.): "Newly surfaced emails" reveal the extent of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, prompting Global Counsel to announce it is cutting ties.

  • February 2026 (approx.): Benjamin Wegg-Prosser announces his resignation as CEO of Global Counsel following further revelations from the Epstein files.

The revelation that Wegg-Prosser himself met Epstein once, for 25 minutes, sixteen years ago at Mandelson's suggestion, and that he later directly emailed Epstein, including sending him a draft company statement, adds a layer of personal entanglement. While Wegg-Prosser's camp suggests he met Epstein only once, the fact that the company was anticipating stories about Mandelson’s links to Epstein and involved Wegg-Prosser in communications with the financier raises further questions about the depth of the firm's awareness and involvement.

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"Sources close to Wegg-Prosser say he met Epstein once 16 years ago for 25 minutes at the suggestion of Mandelson. At other points, Wegg-Prosser himself directly emailed Epstein, on one occasion sending him a draft statement which the company was preparing to issue in anticipation of stories about Mandelson’s links to the financier."

This admission, even from Wegg-Prosser's perspective, suggests a more hands-on approach to managing the Epstein association than might have been previously understood. Was this a routine attempt to head off negative press, or an acknowledgement of a deeper, more complex relationship than currently admitted?

The Political Fallout: Starmer's Tightrope Walk

The Epstein scandal has placed Sir Keir Starmer in a precarious position. Having previously apologized to Epstein's victims for appointing Mandelson as an ambassador, Starmer now faces renewed pressure.

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"Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who fired Mandelson from his ambassadorial job over earlier revelations about his Epstein ties, now faces pressure to get Mandelson to testify in the U.S. about what he knew of the financier's activities."

The government's stance, as articulated by Starmer's spokesperson, is one of cooperation with any official inquiries, coupled with a palpable unease that "all pertinent information had yet emerged." This suggests a strategic hedging, acknowledging the ongoing nature of the scandal and the potential for further damaging revelations.

  • Key Questions for Starmer:

  • What assurances did Mandelson provide regarding his relationship with Epstein when initially appointed ambassador?

  • Did Starmer's office have prior knowledge of the extent of Mandelson's connections beyond what was publicly disclosed?

  • Will the UK government actively assist US authorities in any potential investigations involving Mandelson's testimony?

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The political imperative for Starmer is clear: distance the Labour Party from any lingering shadows of the Epstein affair, while maintaining a semblance of cooperation and transparency. Mandelson's decision to quit the Labour Party shortly before his potential departure from the House of Lords, as reported by DW, is a symbolic move, yet it does little to erase the historical association.

Global Counsel's Damage Control: A Firm Under Siege

Global Counsel's swift action to divest Mandelson's shares and distance itself from him is a clear attempt at corporate survival. Chairman Archie Norman stated, "With the completion of this process today, Peter Mandelson no longer has any shareholding, role or association with Global Counsel and has no influence over the firm in any capacity." This decisive severing of ties is a direct response to the mounting pressure and the undeniable harm caused by Mandelson's connection to Epstein.

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  • Global Counsel's Actions:

  • Agreed to fully divest Lord Mandelson’s shares.

  • Mandelson no longer has any stake, role, or association with the firm.

  • Barclays has reportedly cut ties with Global Counsel amid the scrutiny.

The firm's statement, aiming to "draw a line between Global Counsel and his actions," is a public relations exercise designed to reassure clients, stakeholders, and the public. However, the damage is already done. The fact that the firm, founded in 2010 after Labour's general election loss, had become so closely identified with Mandelson’s brand, and that brand is now so deeply tarnished, poses an existential threat.

The presence of clients like Palantir, a controversial tech firm with significant government contracts, adds another layer of complexity. How will these clients, and the government bodies they interact with, view their continued association with a firm still recovering from such a severe reputational blow? Did these clients conduct their own due diligence regarding Global Counsel's leadership and affiliations, and if so, what were the findings?

Unanswered Questions: The Depths of Mandelson's Connections

Despite Wegg-Prosser's resignation and Global Counsel's corporate maneuvers, fundamental questions about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein remain. Mandelson's own questioning of the authenticity of bank statements, while understandable, sits uncomfortably with the consistent revelations emerging from the Epstein files.

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  • Lingering Inquiries:

  • What was the true nature and extent of Mandelson's interactions with Epstein beyond professional or social encounters?

  • Did Mandelson have any knowledge of, or involvement in, Epstein's alleged criminal activities?

  • Why was Mandelson appointed ambassador by Starmer, given prior, albeit less intense, revelations about his Epstein ties?

  • Will Mandelson be compelled to testify in any US investigations, and what are the UK government's obligations in facilitating such testimony?

The departure of Wegg-Prosser is a significant consequence, but it does not close the book on this scandal. It merely shifts the focus back to Mandelson himself and the wider implications for the British establishment. The pressure to "come clean" is mounting, not just from the public and media, but likely from within political circles as well.

The recent revelations about Mandelson, particularly the "materially different relationship than was known at the time of his appointment" as stated by Britain's foreign ministry, suggest a significant underestimation or misrepresentation of the facts in the past.

"Britain's foreign ministry said when announcing Mandelson's withdrawal that the emails had revealed a materially different relationship than was known at the time of his appointment."

The ultimate fate of Peter Mandelson's position in the House of Lords, and any further actions taken by US authorities or UK government inquiries, will dictate the lasting impact of this latest chapter in the Epstein saga. The business of influence, it seems, has come with a very high price for those caught in its orbit.

Sources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Global Counsel's CEO resign?
Benjamin Wegg-Prosser resigned because the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files, and his association with Peter Mandelson, was causing significant harm to the business.
Q: What is Global Counsel's relationship with Peter Mandelson now?
Global Counsel has completely severed ties with Peter Mandelson, divesting his shares and stating he has no further role or association with the firm.
Q: How are the Epstein files impacting UK politics?
The Epstein files continue to send shockwaves through the UK elite, forcing individuals and institutions to distance themselves from controversial associations and re-evaluate past connections, impacting figures like Peter Mandelson and potentially Sir Keir Starmer.
Q: What are the lingering questions about Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein?
Key questions remain about the true nature and extent of Mandelson's interactions with Epstein, whether he had knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities, and the UK government's role in potential US investigations.
Q: Did Global Counsel know about Mandelson's Epstein ties earlier?
Evidence suggests Global Counsel was aware of potential negative stories regarding Mandelson's Epstein links and was involved in communications with Epstein to manage the narrative, raising questions about their prior knowledge.