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 – around 12.30pm – and include details about the vetting process. The initial release will reportedly contain due diligence on his appointment by the Cabinet Office, which was given to Mr Starmer in advance.
Lord Mandelson, 72, who was sacked as ambassador last year, was arrested in February by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office after the force launched a criminal probe. He faces allegations that he leaked sensitive information to paedophile financier Epstein.
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A ‘big number’ of documents to be released
Cabinet minister Darren Jones said a “big number” of the documents will be released – though it is only expected to be a fraction of the papers demanded by Parliament.
“It’s a big number of documents. Government takes its responsibility to be transparent to Parliament really seriously,” he said this morning. “And of course, on this issue of Peter Mandelson and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, we all have a shared interest in bringing some accountability and transparency to these these issues.
“So the first tranche will be published this afternoon. A second tranche, they will come later, because there’s been further work that we’ve had to do across Government in response to the humble address, which is not quite ready. And we have two other processes that take a bit of time, given the live criminal investigation with the Metropolitan Police and the role of the Intelligence and Security Committee in Parliament has some oversight of it.”
Who is Peter Mandelson?
Most recently, Peter Mandelson was appointed Britain’s ambassador to the US after further revelations over his links to disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In September, Keir Starmer dramatically sacked him from the role after it emerged he coached Epstein through “years of torture” over underage sex charges.
But the Labour veteran has long been a controversial figure in politics. In 1998 he resigned as trade and industry secretary over an undeclared £373,000 loan he had taken from wealthy colleague Geoffrey Robinson to buy a London house.
And in 2001 he resigned as Northern Ireland Secretary after it emerged he had contacted the Home Office on behalf of billionaire Indian-born businessman Srichand Hinduja, who was seeking British citizenship.
Gordon Brown brought him back into frontline politics as Business Secretary in his government. He is now under police investigation over leaking sensitive government information to Epstein while he served in this role.
Peter Mandelson was released from bail conditions last week
Peter Mandelson was last week released from his bail conditions as police continue to investigate allegations against him. The 72-year-old was arrested in February amid accusations he leaked sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
On Friday the Met Police confirmed Lord Mandelson’s passport had 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.
First tranche of Peter Mandelson files due around 12.30pm
The government is expected to publish the first tranche of Peter Mandelson files around 12.30pm – once Prime Minister’s Questions is over.
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 initial release will reportedly contain due diligence on his appointment by the Cabinet Office, which was given to Mr Starmer in advance.
But it will not include information the Met has deemed could prejudice its own investigation.
It also not expected to include – at this stage – WhatsApps between senior ministers and officials with the Labour veteran Lord Mandelson after his appointment. Those are due in a later tranche of the potentially tens of thousands of documents being released.