The former European Commissioner Lord Peter Mandelson has been sacked as Britain’s ambassador to the US following damaging new revelations about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ordered his removal days after it emerged the Labour grandee had referred to the disgraced financier as his “best pal” in notes written for a book on Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003.

A British newspaper investigation disclosed that Lord Mandelson had worked with Epstein on a £1billion business deal, while he was a government minister, after the late paedophile’s conviction for child sex offences.

When the new revelations about the ambassador broke, Sir Keir stood by him, saying he had full confidence in the peer.

But on Wednesday, leaked emails revealed that Lord Mandelson had advised Epstein how to respond when facing criminal charges over soliciting a minor in 2008.

In a statement released this morning, the UK’s Foreign Office said: “The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.

“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect.”

It comes just days before Donald Trump, who was also named in the cache of Epstein documents, is set to arrive in the UK on his second State visit.