Lord Mandelson says he has resigned his membership of the Labour Party as he does not want to "cause further embarrassment" by his links to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The former cabinet minister was sacked as US ambassador last year because of his past connections to Epstein, who appeared in the latest release of files by the US Department of Justice on Friday.

Documents suggest Epstein made $75,000 (£55,000) in payments to Lord Mandelson in three separate $25,000 transactions in 2003 and 2004.

In his letter to Labour's general secretary, Lord Mandelson said: "I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this."

He added: "Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me.

"While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party.

"I want to take this opportunity to repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now.

"I have dedicated my life to the values and success of the Labour Party and in taking my decision, I believe I am acting in its best interests."

Earlier on Sunday, Lord Mandelson said he did not know whether the documents about the payments were authentic.

He had reiterated his regret for "ever having known Epstein" and for continuing his association following the disgraced financier's conviction, apologising "unequivocally to the women and girls who suffered".

Lord Mandelson was sent to Washington by Sir Keir Starmer in December 2024 as the UK's ambassador, but was sacked the following September after further revelations emerged about his friendship with Epstein.

Emails revealed he had been in contact with Epstein after the US financier's 2008 conviction, sending a string of supportive messages.

Images of the former UK ambassador to the US in his underwear have also been uncovered in the latest tranche of Epstein files.

In a redacted photo, he is standing next to a woman whose face is not visible.

Lord Mandelson has said he "cannot place the location or the woman, and I cannot think what the circumstances were".

It is unknown when or where the images of Lord Mandelson and the woman were taken.

Being named or pictured in the files does not indicate wrongdoing.