It comes after the government agreed to MPs’ demands last month to release thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment in 2024 as ambassador to Washington
Keir Starmer is set to publish the first wave of files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.
It comes after the government agreed to MPs’ demands last month to release thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The first tranche of documents are set to be released shortly after Prime Minister’s Questions and include details about the vetting process. Some files are expected to be withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons.
But the final say over which documents are redacted rests with Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee. It is understood WhatsApps between senior ministers, officials, and Lord Mandelson may not be included in the papers being released today.
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The Labour veteran was sacked by Mr Starmer as ambassador in September last year. But his appointment came under the spotlight once again last month after the US Department of Justice released the latest tranche of the so-called Epstein files.
Lord Mandelson, 72, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office by the Metropolitan Police later in February after the force launched a criminal probe. He faced allegations he leaked sensitive information to paedophile financier Epstein.
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Last week he released from his bail conditions as police continue to investigate allegations against him. On Friday the Met confirmed his passport had also been returned to him.
A statement issued by his lawyers said: “In light of speculation following his arrest last week, we wish to clarify that the Metropolitan Police have removed all of Peter Mandelson’s bail conditions and returned his passport. Our client did not and does not pose a flight risk and will continue to cooperate with the police investigation. He will not be making any further comment at this stage.”
His arrest came after documents released by the US Department of Justice suggested Mandelson had shared sensitive insider information with Epstein. This included advance notice of an EU bailout following the 2008 market crash, it is alleged.
Police searched his London home, which is reportedly worth £7.6million, and the farmhouse he rents in Wiltshire. Lord Mandelson, who quit the House of Lords after the DoJ released a tranche of new documents in January, was sacked as Keir Starmer’s ambassador to the US last year.
This happened after new emails revealed the depth of the friendship with Epstein. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released under investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.”