Jeremy Clarkson has slammed Peter Mandelson after his 2010 comment about the former MP and Cabinet minister resurfaced. In 2010, the presenter joked about Mandelson on Top Gear.

He said during a test drive of the Audi R8 V10: “The only sound that I can think of that’s better than that is the sound of Peter Mandelson being attacked by bears.” The clip was recently posted on X (formerly Twitter), with the user asking: “What did @JeremyClarkson mean by this in 2010?” Clarkson responded with an 11-word slam: “He was a wrong ‘un. I could see that even then.” The presenter made another joke about the former politician on Top Gear, saying: “It’s logic to kill Peter Mandelson, but you can’t do it.” Clarkson responded to the resurfaced video on Twitter, saying: “I hated him so much then. And even more so now. Ghastly little weasel.” Documents released by the US Department of Justice have shown Peter Mandelson’s connection to convicted paedophile and sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein, exchanging sleazy emails and celebrating his release from jail as “Liberation Day”.

The latest document dump by US authorities from the so-called Epstein files has piled further pressure on Lord Mandelson, who is facing a criminal investigation and has quit the House of Lords.

The pair are believed to have been friends since 2000, with their relationship continuing after Epstein’s conviction for child sex offences.

Documents released by the National Archives show that Jeffrey Epstein met Tony Blair in Downing Street in 2002, following a recommendation by Mandelson. Mandelson described the financier to the PM’s chief of staff as “safe”, “young and vibrant”, and a friend of his.

After Epstein was charged with one count of lewd and lascivious molestation in 2006, Mandelson emailed him, saying: “Worried that I haven’t heard from you. Are you seeing them off and winning?”

He also emailed when Epstein was sent to prison in 2008 for soliciting sex from a minor: “I think the world of you, and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened. I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain.”

Mandelson is also accused of forwarding Government emails to the convicted paedophile in 2009, including one which included detailed potential policy measures and suggested the Government had saleable assets, following the 2008 financial crisis.

Starmer said yesterday that he is “sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him” British ambassador to Washington. After emails came to light, Mandelson was sacked as US Ambassador.

In a letter to Embassy staff, Mandelson wrote: “The circumstances surrounding the announcement today are ones which I deeply regret. I continue to feel utterly awful about my association with Epstein 20 years ago and the plight of his victims.”