Peter Mandelson apologises for continuing friendship with Jeffrey Epstein - days after refusing to do so

Lord Mandelson has apologised for continuing to be friends with Jeffrey Epstein even after the paedophile financier's first conviction - days after refusing to do so.

In a statement to Sky News, the UK's former ambassador to the US said he would like to "apologise unequivocally" for remaining friends with Epstein, who in 2008 pleaded guilty to two charges including soliciting prostitution from a minor.

It comes after Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador in September by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as historic emails between him and Epstein were published, revealing the pair's relationship was "materially different" to what he had disclosed to the government.

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He had earlier refused to apologise to Epstein's victims in his first interview since his sacking on Sunday.

He was asked by the BBC if he would like to apologise for continuing his relationship - and refused to do so, saying: "If I had known, if I was in any way complicit or culpable, of course I would apologise.

"But I was not culpable, I was not knowledgeable for what he was doing, and I regret, and will regret to my dying day, the fact that powerless women were not given the protection they were entitled to expect."

That response led to outrage, including from minsters.

Read more: Who is Peter Mandelson and what do we know about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?

Lord Mandelson has now changed course with an apology.

In a fresh statement, he said: "At the weekend, I gave an interview to the BBC. In answering questions about my association with Jeffrey Epstein I did not want to be held responsible for his crimes of which I was ignorant, not indifferent, because of the lies he told me and so many others.

"I want to say loudly and clearly that I was wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."

The peer continued to deny he was aware of Epstein's crimes, having previously claimed that the disgraced financier did not share the details of his sex life with him because he is gay.

Lord Mandelson continued: "I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes. Like everyone else, I learned the full truth about him after his death.

"But his victims did know what he was doing, their voices were not heard, and I am truly sorry I was amongst those who believed him over them."

There have been calls for Lord Mandelson to be stripped of his right to sit in the House of Lords as a Labour peer, with the SNP launching a fresh campaign to so this week.

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