Peter Mandelson takes a dip in men's pond at Hampstead Heath in rare public outing since February arrest over Jeffrey Epstein allegations

Published: 22:04, 1 August 2026 | Updated: 22:04, 1 August 2026 Doing his best to keep cool in the sweltering heat of the capital, Peter Mandelson was spotted taking a dip in the men's pond at Hampstead Heath. The disgraced former Labour peer, 72, had booked a £5 one-hour swimming session – but was seen deep in conversation with an attendant about annual membership. A yearly subscription costs £157 but Mr Mandelson was involved in a discussion over a concession rate of £94 due to his age. Mr Mandelson sported a pair of dark goggles and some tight grey shorts for the spot of exercise. The sacked ambassador to the US has rarely been seen in public since he was arrested by police in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. It followed the release of emails by the American Department of Justice, which led to allegations that Mr Mandelson had forwarded market-sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein when he served as business secretary from 2008 to 2010 in Gordon Brown's government. Mr Mandelson was also captured in rather bare pose in an undated photograph released from the so-called Epstein files and published exclusively in The Mail on Sunday in January.  It showed him in his underpants talking to a woman at Epstein's apartment in Paris. Pictured: Peter Mandelson swimming at Highgate Men's Ponds in London on Thursday, July 30 The sacked ambassador to the US is pictured sporting a pair of dark goggles and some tight grey shorts for the spot of exercise He was seen deep in conversation with an attendant about annual membership at the pond In January, the Mail on Sunday exclusively published this image showing Mandelson talking to a maid at Jeffrey Epstein's apartment in Paris Following his swim last Thursday, Mr Mandelson was asked whether his appointment as ambassador had contributed to the political demise of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.  He replied: 'I'm afraid I'm not going to answer any of these questions.' Before cycling off on his £2,500 Brompton fold-up bike, Mr Mandelson, who remains under police investigation, also refused to say why he had taken a £75,000 severance package after losing his job last September due to his undisclosed links to Epstein.