Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. The former Labour minister was questioned over allegations that he passed sensitive information to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The 72-year-old was seen returning to his London home in a taxi in the early hours of Tuesday, hours after being escorted from his property by plainclothes officers on Monday afternoon. The Met is investigating claims that Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive data to Epstein while serving as business secretary. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The arrest comes days before a crucial byelection in Gorton and Denton, and intensifies political pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who had appointed Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Starmer has apologised to Epstein’s victims, stating that Mandelson lied about the extent of his relationship with the late sex offender. The decision had angered Labour MPs and led to the departure of the prime minister’s chief of staff.
Mandelson’s arrest follows that of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who became the first royal family member in modern times to be taken into police custody, with investigations ongoing into alleged sharing of confidential information with Epstein. Searches of properties linked to Mountbatten-Windsor have continued.
Downing Street has agreed to release documents to parliament’s intelligence and security committee regarding Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, with the first tranche expected in early March. However, exchanges between Starmer and Mandelson on Epstein will be withheld until the police investigation concludes.
