Calls for Lord Mandelson to be Stripped of his 2009 Hartlepool Honorary Freeman Title in the Wake of the Jefferey Epstein Scandal..
- teessidetoday
- Sep 12
- 5 min read
Pressures mounting for Lord Mandelson, who was sacked as Ambassador to the US over his links to Jefferey Epstein to be stripped of his Honorary Freeman of Hartlepool, a title given to him by a now serving Hartlepool Labour MP.
12th September 2025
Peter Mandelson—AKA The "Prince of Darkness", a title given to him due to his Machiavellian maneuvering throughout his turbulent political career in politics—has once again found himself at the centre of yet another political storm, where revelations about his close relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have not only cost him his prestigious role as the UK's ambassador to the United States, but have also sparked fresh calls to strip him of his honorary freeman status in Hartlepool, the northeastern town he once represented as an MP.
The development harks back to a controversial 2009 alleged "stitch-up" that first granted Mr Mandelson the honor, raising questions about political favouritism, accountability, and the long shadow of Epstein's crimes.
The Epstein Revelations and Mandelson's Swift Downfall
The scandal erupted earlier this week, where in September 2025 newly released emails, obtained by media outlets including Bloomberg and The Sun, exposed the true depth of Mandelson's friendship with Epstein. In one particularly damning message from 2009 (around the time Mr Mandelson was being nominated for the Honorary Freeman of Hartlepool), Mr Mandelson reportedly wrote to Epstein, who was then facing charges for procuring a child for prostitution, expressing support for him and calling Mr Epstein his "best pal."
Mandelson urged Epstein to "fight" the allegations, even after his 2008 conviction, and lamented feeling "hopeless and furious" about the situation.
These disclosures came amid broader scrutiny of Epstein's network, with documents released by U.S. lawmakers highlighting Mandelson's inclusion in a 50th birthday album compiled for Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Deep Regret..... But only now the revelations are public !
Mr Mandelson has since expressed deep regret over the association, stating he feels "utterly awful" about it and that he continued the relationship "for far longer than I should have."
However, the fallout was immediate and severe, as well as being hugely damaging for the already embattled Labour Government, where, On September 11, 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer sacked Mandelson from his ambassadorial post, a decision confirmed in Parliament by Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty.
Starmer's office reportedly cited the emergence of "additional information" not available during Mandelson's appointment vetting process, emphasising that the emails were from a long-closed account. Labour MPs, including Andy McDonald, voiced "widespread revulsion" within the party, whilst Immigration Minister Mike Tapp described the messages as "disturbing and sickening."
Opposition figures, such as Conservative MP Neil O'Brien, piled on the pressure with an urgent parliamentary question, leading to Mandelson's removal.
The sacking is said to have broader implications on the Labour Party itself, with MPs still said to be demanding Mandelson return to the UK to face some rather 'uncomfortable' questions about his Epstein ties.
Some, like Labour MP Chris Hinchliff, have gone further, calling for his expulsion from the House of Lords entirely.
Mandelson's peerage title itself—Baron Mandelson of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham—ties him symbolically to the town, amplifying local discontent
The 2009 'Stitch-Up': How Mandelson Secured the Hartlepool Honour
Mandelson's honorary freeman status in Hartlepool dates back to November 2009, a decision shrouded in controversy from the start. As the former MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, Mandelson was nominated for the honour alongside six other local figures, including beloved Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling and community leaders, such as Isobel Wilson of the Pansies Breast Cancer Support Group.
The vote occurred under Hartlepool Borough Council's "pink paper rules," a confidential process typically reserved for sensitive matters, which prevented public discussion.
The then Labour group leader Jonathan Brash, then a 26-year-old rising star seen as a potential future MP, insisted on bundling all seven nominations into a single block vote.
This move was decried by opposition councillors as a "stitch-up" and "emotional blackmail," as opponents argued it forced councillors to either approve Mandelson's honour, or deny well-deserved recognition to the others.
The initial vote tied at 19-19, passing only via the casting vote of Labour chairman Carl Richardson. The final tally secured the required two-thirds majority with 22 votes in favor, 10 against, and six abstentions. Critics, including UKIP councillor Steve Allison, labeled it a "disgrace and an insult to democracy."
Brash, who would later became Hartlepool's Labour MP in 2024, declined to comment at the time, citing confidentiality rules. Mandelson himself was "thrilled" by the honor, adding it to his lengthy title.
Connections between Mandelson and Brash have been scrutinised further, with reports suggesting a "political favour returned" dynamic, with Mr Mandelson publicly endorsing Mr Brash on his 2024 General Election campaign, with the 2009 scandal long viewed as emblematic of Mandelson's ability to navigate political machinery to his advantage including the ability to put his arm around those he feels will further his aims.
Renewed Calls to Revoke the Honor Amid Epstein Backlash
The Epstein scandal has breathed new life into debates over Mandelson's Hartlepool ties. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, a Conservative, publicly decried the latest revelations as "awful and disgusting," urging Hartlepool residents to demand the revocation of Mandelson's freeman status now that Starmer had initially backed him despite the evidence.
Similar sentiments are echoed in nearby Hull, where councillors are said to be pushing to remove Mr Mandelson as high steward, following his ambassadorial dismissal.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), public outrage ties directly to Hartlepool's history with Mandelson. Users have referenced his 2021 campaign appearance in the town, where Epstein links were already raised, and called for stripping his honors, including the peerage element linked to Hartlepool.
One post quipped about "rehanging the Hartlepool Monkey," alluding to a local legend and implying Mandelson's symbolic downfall. Others simply expressed disbelief that working-class voters in Hartlepool ever supported him, given his scandals.
Jonathan Brash, now the sitting MP for Hartlepool, has not publicly commented on calls to revoke the honor he helped secure in 2009. However, the pressure is mounting, with critics arguing that Mandelson's Epstein association taints any public recognition.
As one X user put it, Mandelson represents a "slippery sleazy manipulating immoral snake" who has turned Westminster into a "cesspool."
This scandal underscores the enduring toxicity of Epstein's legacy and the risks of appointing figures with highly checkered pasts to high-profile roles. For Prime Minister Keir Starmer, it's a hammer blow to his governments credibility, especially after warnings about Mandelson's history seemingly went unheeded.
In Hartlepool, a town which has flipped from Labour to Conservative in a 2021 by-election, the calls to strip Mr Mandelson of the honor reflect deeper frustrations with elite politics & raising further questions over Mr Brash's links with Mr Mandelson himself.
Whether Mandelson loses his freeman status remains to be seen—such revocations are rare but certainly not unprecedented. What's clear is that Mandelson's Epstein links have reopened some very old wounds, reminding us that in politics, the past is never truly buried.
With some saying there's more to come....
Much More !
