Mandelson Faces Fine Over Street Urination As Council Moves To Act
Lord Peter Mandelson faces a fine of up to £300 after Kensington and Chelsea council said it is looking to issue a fixed-penalty notice over an alleged public urination incident in Notting Hill last November. The council says it has been unable to send the notice because it cannot find a suitable address for him. The case comes after Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the US and remains under criminal investigation over separate allegations.
Notice still not issued
Kensington and Chelsea council told the it is “looking to issue” the notice, but “just can’t find an address. ” The authority said street enforcement officers were not at the scene when the alleged offence took place, so they could not hand out a penalty at the time.
The alleged incident happened after a late-night visit to the home of former Conservative chancellor George Osborne in west London. The council said that, given the images and public quotes made about the offence, it is now seeking to proceed with the fine.
What the penalty could be
The fixed penalty notice carries a fine of up to £300, with the amount reduced to £150 if paid within two weeks. The council has not yet issued the notice because the address problem remains unresolved.
The incident has drawn attention because of Mandelson’s recent fall from office and the wider scrutiny around his public position. He was removed from the ambassador role last year after Downing Street said new information had emerged about the depth of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Reaction around Mandelson
No direct public response from Lord Mandelson was included in the material on the council’s move. The said it had approached him for a response.
In earlier comments on the incident, Mandelson said, “There is no disguising my embarrassment. ” He later said in an interview that the situation was “very humanising, ” while blaming cancelled cars for leaving him needing to urinate. Those remarks were made separately from the council’s latest attempt to issue the fine.
Background to the case
Mandelson was business secretary under Gordon Brown and has been a high-profile figure in British politics for decades. He was appointed ambassador to Washington in December 2024 before being sacked in September last year.
The separate criminal investigation concerns allegations that he passed market-sensitive government information to Epstein. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing, and no charges have been brought.
What happens next
The council’s next step depends on whether it can identify an address for service of the notice. If it succeeds, the fine could follow; if not, the process may remain stalled, even as the wider pressure around Mandelson continues.
