The latest tranche of documents related to Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador has been published, revealing private messages with senior government figures. The files, released by the House of Commons, include WhatsApp conversations and emails with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and ex-communications chief Matthew Doyle. The release follows revelations about Lord Mandelson's connections to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In one exchange, Lord Mandelson advised ministers to adopt a more 'Trumpian risk-taking and daredevil' approach after Labour's loss to Reform in the Runcorn by-election. He told Mr McFadden that the party's problems 'stems from the top and Keir [Starmer] lacks verve'. The message, sent at around 4am US time on 3 May, criticised the Prime Minister's leadership style.
Lord Mandelson also wrote to Deputy Leader David Lammy, assuring him he would 'never regret' appointing him as ambassador. The handwritten note, dated 18 November 2024, was penned as Lord Mandelson awaited the results of Oxford University's chancellor election. He expressed hope that media speculation about the role had not been irritating.
The documents further reveal Lord Mandelson's queries to UK Security Vetting about whether he needed to declare 'literally every foreign national I have ever met'. In an email, he asked for clarification on the scope of the requirement. A Foreign Office official advised him to send over a handful of names to reassure the vetting team.
Additional messages show Lord Mandelson and Mr McFadden discussing the Prime Minister's future during a welfare cuts rebellion. Mr McFadden described the situation as 'very bad', warning that many options 'all destroy his [the PM's] authority'. Lord Mandelson responded that if a vote were lost, he was 'not sure that Keir survives that'. The government ultimately climbed down without a vote.
No 10 indicated that this batch represents the full planned release of Mandelson files, except for those withheld at Scotland Yard's request to avoid jeopardising its investigation.
