Barclays has severed ties with a lobbying firm co-founded by former Labour minister Peter Mandelson amid mounting scrutiny over its founder's associations with late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes as the scandal surrounding Mandelson's dealings with Epstein continues to unfold, with many calling for greater accountability from those who facilitated his relationship with the convicted sex offender.
The bank's decision is reportedly driven by frustration over Global Counsel's handling of Mandelson's remaining stake in the firm, according to sources close to the situation. Vodafone has also announced that it is reviewing its contract with Global Counsel following reports of its founder's connections to Epstein.
Mandelson, who was sacked as ambassador to the US last September after emails emerged suggesting he had a close relationship with Epstein, has sought to distance himself from the lobbying firm in recent weeks. However, the revelations have only served to deepen the public's perception that Global Counsel is tainted by its founder's associations.
The firm has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of sensitive information on government policy shared by Mandelson with Epstein, which has triggered a major crisis for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer had previously appointed Mandelson as ambassador to the US but apologized after learning about his ties to Epstein.
As the scandal continues to unfold, several other organizations have also pulled back from Global Counsel in recent days. Rokos Capital Management, a £16bn London hedge fund, announced that it had terminated talks with Mandelson over an advisory role following reports of government leaks facilitated by the lobbying firm's founder.
Meanwhile, emails released as part of a US Department of Justice investigation into Epstein's activities have shed new light on Global Counsel's connections to the convicted sex offender. The firm has faced allegations that its chief executive and co-founder met with Epstein in person at his home in 2010, raising further questions about its integrity and reputation.
The controversy surrounding Mandelson and Global Counsel serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater transparency and accountability in the lobbying industry. As more organizations pull back from the firm, it remains to be seen how long it will take for the UK government to fully address the crisis sparked by Mandelson's associations with Epstein.
The bank's decision is reportedly driven by frustration over Global Counsel's handling of Mandelson's remaining stake in the firm, according to sources close to the situation. Vodafone has also announced that it is reviewing its contract with Global Counsel following reports of its founder's connections to Epstein.
Mandelson, who was sacked as ambassador to the US last September after emails emerged suggesting he had a close relationship with Epstein, has sought to distance himself from the lobbying firm in recent weeks. However, the revelations have only served to deepen the public's perception that Global Counsel is tainted by its founder's associations.
The firm has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of sensitive information on government policy shared by Mandelson with Epstein, which has triggered a major crisis for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer had previously appointed Mandelson as ambassador to the US but apologized after learning about his ties to Epstein.
As the scandal continues to unfold, several other organizations have also pulled back from Global Counsel in recent days. Rokos Capital Management, a £16bn London hedge fund, announced that it had terminated talks with Mandelson over an advisory role following reports of government leaks facilitated by the lobbying firm's founder.
Meanwhile, emails released as part of a US Department of Justice investigation into Epstein's activities have shed new light on Global Counsel's connections to the convicted sex offender. The firm has faced allegations that its chief executive and co-founder met with Epstein in person at his home in 2010, raising further questions about its integrity and reputation.
The controversy surrounding Mandelson and Global Counsel serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater transparency and accountability in the lobbying industry. As more organizations pull back from the firm, it remains to be seen how long it will take for the UK government to fully address the crisis sparked by Mandelson's associations with Epstein.
I'm not surprised Barclays is kicking Global Counsel out - those emails about Epstein are super dodgy! 
It's crazy that a lobbying firm can get away with so much, especially when they're connected to a convicted sex offender like Epstein. 
I think the whole thing is just a big mess and it's high time for the government to step in and clean things up. The public has got the right to know what's going on behind closed doors, you know? 
It's not just about accountability, but also about maintaining trust in institutions. When those in power can't be trusted, it's a big problem! 
The fact that he's still got a stake in the lobbying firm is just red flag after red flag. And now Vodafone is reviewing its contract too? That's just a bunch of organizations trying to cover their own backs, if you ask me. I'm all for transparency and accountability, but this just feels like a whole lot of people trying to wriggle out of responsibility. 
mandelson thought he could just distance himself, but now it's too late. everyone knows who he's been messing around with. global counsel needs a complete overhaul, can't trust them as far as I can throw 'em 
The whole thing just reeks of cronyism and power plays. Barclays cutting ties with Global Counsel is a good start, but what's next? Will the UK government finally take some real action to clean up this mess?
. First Vodafone pulls out, then Rokos Capital Management, and now Barclays. What's the point of reviewing contracts if you're not gonna do something about it? The emails released by the US DOJ are just icing on the cake - it's clear that Global Counsel is in way over its head.
. I hope Keir Starmer takes this opportunity to shake things up in the UK government - we deserve better than cronyism and cover-ups! 
his connections to Jeffrey Epstein are totally unacceptable and it's no wonder Vodafone is reviewing their contract too. Barclays was probs just waiting for the perfect storm to kick in before they severed ties, but still kudos to them for taking a firm stance against those dodgy dealings 
. I think the whole lobbying industry needs a serious shake-up. Like, transparency and accountability are key, you know? Can't have people making deals with convicted sex offenders behind our backs 
. You'd think they'd do some digging before getting involved, right? It's not exactly rocket science. Now, Barclays is cutting ties and Vodafone is reviewing their contract... I get it, they don't want any part of the drama 
. But what about all these other organizations that have already pulled back? It's like, you can't just jump on the bandwagon when someone else makes a mistake 
.
come on uk gov can't even get their own lobbying firm in check 
That's some serious insider trading going on.