Peter Mandelson has said he "regrets very deeply" continuing his association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein "far longer than I should have" as their relationship comes under renewed scrutiny.

Lord Mandelson, the UK ambassador to the US, faced questions on Tuesday after it emerged he had referred to Epstein as his "best pal" in a birthday message he wrote for the convicted sex offender in 2003.

In an interview with The Sun, the diplomat said he regrets "very much that I fell for his lies... and accepted assurances he had given me about his indictment", which saw him jailed in 2008.

Image: Peter Mandelson. Pic: Reuters

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Lord Mandelson said: "He's a charismatic, criminal liar we now see, and I regret very much indeed.

"I felt it like an

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