The friendship between Lord Mandelson and Epstein was thrown back into the spotlight on Tuesday, when US lawmakers released a number of documents which included a letter from Lord Mandelson in which he called Epstein his"best pal".

The alleged"birthday book" given to Epstein in 2003 to celebrate his 50th birthday, also contained messages, cards and photos sent by his friends, including a letter carrying a signature resembling that of President Trump. Trump has denied writing the note.

Epstein was a well-connected financier who was convicted in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a person under the age of 18 in 2008. He died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Lord Mandelson has been in and out of British politics for four decades and was instrumental in the New Labour project which saw Tony Blair win the 1997 election with a huge landslide.

He was a minister in different departments in the government until 2010, when Labour lost power and during that time earned a reputation for bouncing back after twice being forced to resign his ministerial positions.