New Peter Mandelson data despatched to police as Starmer blasts ‘gobsmacking’ response
The Cabinet Office has referred new information about the newly-released Jeffrey Epstein files to police as anger grows over Peter Mandelson, No10 has confirmed.
Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said safeguards around confidential information appeared to have been compromised in the aftermath of the 2008 market crash. Newly-released emails suggest Mandelson may have passed market-sensitive information to Epstein while he was Business Secretary under Gordon Brown.
No10 said an assessment of the way information was handled has been passed to the Met Police, which is reviewing reports of allegations of misconduct in public office. A tranche of documents released last week also indicate Mandelson received $75,000 from paedophile Epstein.
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US Committee on Oversight and Government Reform)
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “An initial review of the documents released in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice has found that they contain likely market sensitive information surrounding the 2008 financial crash and official activities thereafter to stabilise the economy.
“Only people operating in an official capacity had access to this information and strict handling conditions to ensure it was not available to anyone who could potentially benefit from it financially. It appears the safeguards were compromised.
“In light of this information, the Cabinet Office has referred this material to the police. As we said yesterday, it is rightly for the police to determine whether to investigate. And as the Prime Minister has indicated at cabinet this morning, the Government stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police need.”
Mr Starmer told the Cabinet that Mandelson had let the country down as he piled pressure on him to quit the Lords. The PM said the public would find it “gobsmacking” a senior politician saying the couldn’t recall receiving significant sums of money.
On Sunday, after the documents indicating he had received three payments of $25,000 from Epstein came to light, Mandelson insisted: “I have no record and no recollection of receiving these sums and do not know if the documents are authentic.”
Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US in September after emails revealing he had coached Epstein came to light. Cross-party talks have been launched over new legislation that could see him and other disgraced peers removed from the House of Lords.
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DoJ)
On Monday it emerged that police are investigating reports of allegations of misconduct in public office amid claims Mandelson leaked sensitive information to Epstein. It has yet to decide whether to launch a full investigation.
Photos released alongside the new documents include an image of Mandelson in his underpants with an unidentified woman, which is claimed to have been taken in Epstein’s Paris flat.
Mandelson himself has suggested he does not intend to go quietly.
In an interview with The Times he said: “Hiding under a rock would be a disproportionate response to a handful of misguided historical emails, which I deeply regret sending. If it hadn’t been for the emails, I’d still be in Washington.”
Documents released by the US Department of Justice indicate Epstein was sent details of internal discussions from the heart of the UK government after the global financial crisis. Mandelson, the then-business secretary, appeared to tell Epstein he would lobby ministers over a tax on bankers’ bonuses in 2009, and to confirm an imminent bailout package for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010.
Bank statements from 2003 and 2004 appeared to show he received payments totalling 75,000 US dollars from the financier, and Epstein is also said to have paid for an osteopathy course for Mandelson’s husband. Quizzed on Sky News about what the PM was doing to remove him, Ms Smyth said: “We’re all learning the rules. Peter Mandelson is not the first Lord to have been in disrepute.
