London-based Kenyan journalist and historian Levin Odhiambo Opiyo has shared shocking revelations about British politician Lord Peter Mandelson and his husband, Reinaldo da Silva, following the release of the Epstein files.
The files suggest Mandelson, 72, maintained a close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a connection that could destabilize Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
Reports indicate that Starmer ignored early warnings about Mandelson’s ties to Epstein before appointing him UK Ambassador to the US.
The files also shed light on Mandelson’s marriage. Emails sent to Epstein by Mandelson paint a strained picture of his relationship with Reinaldo, 52, a Brazilian who arrived in England in the mid-1990s to study languages but soon dropped out after meeting Mandelson.
In one email, Mandelson complained that his husband depended on him financially and was uninterested in work.
“He said he needed £500 for household needs. Why doesn’t he go out and earn some money?” Mandelson wrote.
He described their marriage as driven by cash rather than romance.
The files reveal further tensions, including Reinaldo’s interest in spiritualism. He once took Mandelson to Brazil for a voodoo ceremony reportedly aimed at cursing a Gordon Brown government official.
Reinaldo also attempted to start an alternative medicine and massage centre in London, with Mandelson providing the capital. Fearing financial loss, Mandelson sought Epstein’s help to intervene.
Epstein reportedly convinced Reinaldo to abandon the business and instead sponsored his osteopathy training, sending £10,000.
Within six months, Reinaldo spent the money and requested additional funds, prompting Epstein to set up a monthly stipend of $4,000 (£2,950) directly to him.
Opiyo noted the story highlights that financial dependence and a taste for “soft life” are not limited to women, echoing Mandelson’s frustrations with his husband’s lifestyle.