Head of firm founded by Mandelson to quit after Epstein releases

Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, the chief executive of the lobbying firm co-founded with Peter Mandelson, has announced his resignation after information in the Jeffrey Epstein files detailed apparent links between the company and the convicted sex offender.

Global Counsel, which the two men set up after Labour lost the 2010 general election, has advised clients including Shell and TikTok.

As first reported in the Financial Times, Wegg-Prosser announced his resignation on Friday, having concluded his long standing association with Lord Mandelson - and references to them both in the Epstein files - was doing the business harm and so he should go.

He has insisted he has not done anything wrong.

Wegg-Prosser's profile page on the company's website has already been taken down.

Lord Mandelson resigned from the board of Global Counsel in 2024, shortly before the general election.

The Epstein files, released by the US Department of Justice last week include several mentions of Wegg-Prosser.

The company employs more than 100 people and has offices in Berlin, Brussels, Singapore, Washington DC and Doha. Last year it reported a revenue of £21.6m and an annual profit of £250,000.

Clients over the years have included US tech company Palantir, Vodafone and JP Morgan.

The Financial Times has reported that Lord Mandelson still holds a 21% stake in the business despite clients being told in September that the shares would be sold.

Wegg-Prosser has been a close associate of Lord Mandelson since the 1990s when he was one of the then-Labour politician's key advisers.

In 2005, he was appointed as director of Downing Street's strategic communications unit under Tony Blair.

Lord Mandelson was sacked as the UK's ambassador to the US last year after previous information came to the light about his links to US financier and convicted sex offender Epstein.

However, following the release of thousands of emails between Epstein and Mandelson, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing questions about why he selected in the first place and the vetting process that took place prior to the appointment.

Sir Keir has apologised to the victims of Epstein for selecting Lord Mandelson to be his ambassador. He has also accused him of having lied during the vetting process.

The BBC understands Lord Mandelson's view is that he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein in the vetting process accurately.

On Sunday, Mandelson reiterated his regret for "ever having known Epstein" and for continuing his association following Epstein's conviction.

He has told the BBC he "was never culpable or complicit in (Epstein's) crimes. Like everyone else I learned the actual truth about him after his death".