An email believed to be from Sarah Ferguson to Jeffrey Epstein has been unearthed from the latest drop of files related to the investigation into the paedophile. Follow the latest as we go through the documents.
Monday 2 February 2026 20:16, UK
Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig has been assessing what happens next for Lord Mandelson, as new mentions in the Epstein files continue to emerge.
The former UK ambassador to the US resigned from the Labour Party yesterday, and has faced calls today - including from Keir Starmer - to give up his peerage in the House of Lords.
We can now bring you what appears to be a series of text messages exchanged between Jeffrey Epstein and an unknown person in September 2018.
In a conversation over two days on Apple's iMessage, the unknown person - whose identity or phone number has been redacted - discussed someone described as a 23-year-old former model from Russia.
Addressing Epstein as "Jeffrey", the person said: "I might have a nice smart girl for you , Sir (sic)".
Epstein asks "smart girl?"
The unknown person replied "Yes very intelligent and sweet personality", before then sending what appears to be two pictures of the woman. Her face has been blocked.
Epstein then asked for her name and details. Her name then appears to be sent, but has been redacted.
The woman was staying in San Diego for "haIf a year for an exchange program of her Moscow university" and wanted to stay in US, the unknown person said.
They also promised "more details in person".
Epstein then asked the person to send over their bank details to a third person.
In another message five hours later, Epstein said he had "sent you 5 thousand dollars today".
Epstein then checked the money has been received the following day.
The messages appear to have been exchanged less than a year before Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019 after being arrested on sex trafficking charges.
The Metropolitan Police says it's aware of the latest release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and confirms it's received "a number of reports relating to alleged misconduct in a public office".
Ella Marriott, Commander of the Met, says: "The reports will all be reviewed to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation.
"As with any matter, if new and relevant information is brought to our attention we will assess it, and investigate as appropriate."
Lord Mandelson took a liking to money and who that had it while serving in the UK government, his biographer has said.
Donald McIntyre, author of Mandelson: And the Making of New Labour, told presenter Jonathan Samuels he started to get interested in "the lifestyles and money of pretty rich people" he dealt with when he became business secretary.
"He started having holidays in places like Saint Barts, he started meeting people like, eventually, Jeffrey Epstein.
"He has been drawn both to money and to this rather louche environment a bit like a moth to the light, and that has been a weakness in Mandelson's... throughout certainly the second half of his career."
Mandelson previously said in a statement: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."
Watch McIntyre's full interview...
Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government tax plans to Jeffrey Epstein when he was business secretary, emails appear to show.
The confidential document, released by the US Department of Justice as part of millions of files relating to Epstein, was written by Nick Butler, a special adviser to Gordon Brown, the prime minister at the time.
Mandelson forwarded the memo to Epstein in 2009, captioning it: "Interesting note that's gone to the PM."
The revelation will add to the pressure on the former British ambassador to Washington, who resigned his membership from the Labour Party yesterday.
Lord Mandelson has been approached for comment.
On his relationship with Epstein he has previously said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."
Butler told Paste BN: "I don't have any comment beyond being shocked by the betrayal of trust involved."
An email in the latest tranche of Epstein files suggests Lord Mandelson gave Jeffrey Epstein advanced notice of a €500bn EU bank bailout in 2010.
Mandelson, then the UK's business secretary, was emailed by Epstein who wrote: "Sources tell me 500 b euro bailout , almost compelte (sic)."
Lord Mandelson then appears to have responded: "Sd be announced tonight"
Epstein then asked if he was home, to which Mandelson replied: "Just leaving No10... will call".
The €500bn deal was approved the next day by European governments as they tried to pull the currency through the 2010 "Eurozone" crisis - where countries such as Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Cyprus were unable to repay or refinance their government debt.
The UK did not contribute to the bailout.
However, the then-chancellor Alistair Darling was present in Brussels for the negotiations.
Paste BN has approached representatives for Lord Mandelson for comment on these claims.
In a statement about previous allegations, he said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."
Responding to claims that Lord Mandelson leaked confidential and privileged information while he served as business secretary during Gordon Brown’s premiership, Brown said: "I have today asked the Cabinet Secretary to investigate the disclosure of confidential and market sensitive information from the then Business Department during the global financial crisis."
Lord Mandelson sent Jeffrey Epstein an email saying he "finally got him to go", the day before Gordon Brown resigned as prime minister.
The email was sent from Mandelson to Epstein on 10 May 2010.
He does not name the person he is referring to and there has been no confirmation of what the email is about, however it came one day before Brown announced his resignation as Labour Party head and leader of the UK.
Mandelson, who resigned his Labour Party membership today over his links to Epstein, was business secretary in Brown's cabinet at the time the email was sent.
Epstein replies saying: "I have faith, the value of some chapters in your book should now increase."
Mandelson then makes reference to secret tunnels linking Number 10 and the Ministry of Defence.
It seemed inevitable there would be more damaging documents in the latest batch of the Epstein files relating to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
Neither the former prince, nor the wider Royal Family, have responded to this most recent tranche, in which Andrew is pictured on all fours, leaning over an unidentified woman.
In a statement issued on 17 October 2025, Andrew reiterated he "vigorously" denied the accusations against him.
So what else is inside the latest drop? What does it say about his relationship with the convicted sex offender? And how much further can Andrew fall?
Listen to the latest episode of the Daily podcast...
We can now bring you an email sent by "Sarah" to Jeffrey Epstein on the evening of 30 January 2010.
Paste BN believes the sender to be Sarah Ferguson.
In the email, she described Epstein as a "legend".
"I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. I am at your service. Just marry me," she wrote.
We don't know what the email was in response to or have any further context around this message.
In a 2011 interview, Ferguson said: "I would never have anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again. I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children. It was a gigantic error of judgment."
Being named in these documents is not a sign of wrongdoing.
A Scottish MP has reported Lord Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police over his association with Jeffrey Epstein while working as a government minister.
Stephen Flynn, the Westminster leader for the Scottish National Party (SNP), said in a statement the "disgraceful revelations" about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein "must be fully investigated by the UK government and all appropriate authorities".
He said:
"There is no question that Lord Mandelson's actions were shameful and unethical - the only question is the extent to which his actions breached the ministerial code and the law.
"I have, therefore, reported Peter Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police."
Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig reacted to the news...
The Met have been approached for comment.
Mandelson announced his resignation from the Labour Party yesterday, but has so far given no indication if he will give up his peerage in the House of Lords.
On his relationship with Epstein, Mandelson has said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."
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