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MPs are demanding Peter Mandelson appears on British soil to give evidence on his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

But there is frustration within parliament at Lord Mandelson’s ability to avoid scrutiny, as Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to sack him as ambassador to the US over his links to the deceased billionaire.

It comes after it emerged the Labour peer, who has said he wishes he had never met Epstein, had written him a 2003 birthday note in which he described him as his “best pal”.

According to reports in Bloomberg and The Sun, he also sent Epstein messages of support while he was being investigated for sex offences, telling him he was “following you closely and here whenever you need”.

Politics Hub: Follow the latest from Westminster

Sky News has learned that the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee of MPs made a request to hear from Lord Mandelson after he was appointed by Sir Keir last year, but this was blocked by the Foreign Office.

Lord Mandelson‘s status as a member of the House of Lords means the committee cannot force him to appear before them. People overseas can also not be compelled to give evidence.

Committees have the power to summon people to give evidence and find them in contempt of parliament if they do not comply.

Lord Mandelson’s failure to appear adds to the controversy around a lack of government transparency sparked by the decision to not let national security adviser Jonathan Powell give evidence to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.

Mike Tapp, the Home Office minister, told Sky News that it is “important we have full answers” on Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.

Asked if he should face the scrutiny of parliamentary committees, Mr Tapp said: “What is important to me, and I’m really clear on this, is we do have the full answers on this.

“But Sir Keir Starmer has been clear yesterday in the House that all of the answers are there.”

Conservative MP and FAC member Aphra Brandreth is the only person on the committee to publicly call for Lord Mandelson to give them evidence on the ambassador’s links to Epstein.

Sky News understands that others on the committee are keen for Lord Mandelson to speak to them, but have decided not to go public. As the committee make-up mirrors that of parliament, most members are Labour MPs.

Read more on Mandelson:
Starmer backs his ambassador
What was his relationship with Epstein?
The disconnect between his claims and letters to Epstein

Ms Brandreth said in a statement: “At a time of huge instability around the globe, it’s vital that the UK’s ambassador to the US is focused completely on his job

“As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I would welcome the opportunity to question Lord Mandelson on his ability to carry out his duties to the UK.”

She shared a letter written by fellow Tory MP and former Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns.

In the letter, Ms Kearns called on current chair Dame Emily Thornberry to summon Lord Mandelson, question him and put the concerns of MPs to him.

Ms Kearns also wants to know what questions Dame Emily has asked the Foreign Office since the appointment of Lord Mandelson, and to find out “how substantial” his relationship with Epstein was.

Ms Kearns told Sky News: “Months and months have passed with no action from the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, instead, there has been an unsettling silence from her on all things Mandelson.

“I would have summoned Mandelson long ago, it’s the chair’s duty to get the answers parliament deserves. It’s all too evident Thornberry has long been focused on her next role, not the one she’s been elected and paid to do.”

In January, Dame Emily raised Lord Mandelson’s appointment with Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty.

She said the appointment was “inspired” – before asking the minister and government to “allow Lord Mandelson the time to come before my committee before he leaves for the United States”.

Mr Doughty said: “I am sure that we will consider any request that my right honourable friend makes in due course in the normal way in which we consider requests from her committee.”

The FCDO has been approached for comment.

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates reports that the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office, Ollie Robbins, has written to Lord Mandelson to ask a series of questions.

These questions include: When did you last meet Jeffrey Epstein before he took his own life? When did you last accept hospitality? What were your last business dealings with?

It is not known if Lord Mandelson will respond.

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Meanwhile, Labour MPs Andy McDonald, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Kim Johnson have called for Sir Keir to sack Lord Mandelson.

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, also urged the prime minister to remove Lord Mandelson without further delay – warning his “reputation is now on the line”.

But a source within diplomatic circles who has known Lord Mandelson told Sky News correspondent Rhiannon Mills they believe the US ambassador “can ride it out”.

“Unless there is worse to come, if he can stomach the attention, he can ride it out. In the UK residence in Washington, with its grounds and security, it is easy to hide away,” the source said.

“The most important part of Mandelson’s role as ambassador is his relationship with the US administration, they will not be the least bit fussed about this. They have bigger problems.

“This isn’t going to be a big story in the States as the focus is on Trump and dozens of other prominent American figures. The US press have lots of other fish to chase”.