New files set to be released as part of the Peter Mandelson scandal will reportedly reveal embarrassing messages between Labour ministers and the disgraced peer. The documents, expected to be published when MPs return to Parliament after the half-term break, are said to show some ministers were ingratiating themselves with Lord Mandelson.
Earlier this year, MPs ordered the release of documents related to Lord Mandelson's controversial appointment as Britain's ambassador to the US. A first batch was published in March, and a second batch is due next month. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been shaken by the scandal and is fighting for his political future after Labour's poor local election results.
The next set of Mandelson files will increase pressure on the Prime Minister, but insiders claim there is no smoking gun in the latest documents to bring down the Government. A source told The i Paper: 'The messages are more embarrassing than anything else and reveal a far too cosy relationship between some ministers and Lord Mandelson.'
Wes Streeting, who resigned as Health Secretary this month after losing confidence in Sir Keir's leadership, has previously released his own messages with Lord Mandelson. In February, Mr Streeting published his private WhatsApp messages with the peer to show he had nothing to hide. They revealed that Mr Streeting congratulated Lord Mandelson on his appointment as US ambassador in December 2024.
The messages also showed Mr Streeting complaining to Lord Mandelson in March last year that the Labour Government had no growth strategy at all. When Lord Mandelson messaged that 'the government problems do not stem from comms', Mr Streeting replied: 'Quite.' He added: 'There isn't a clear answer to the question: why Labour?' Lord Mandelson responded: 'The government doesn't have an economic philosophy which is then followed through in a programme of policies.'
In the same exchange, Mr Streeting expressed fears that 'we're in big trouble here' and that he would be 'toast at the next election' due to the strength of the pro-Gaza vote in his Ilford North seat. In further messages last July, Mr Streeting discussed with Lord Mandelson whether the Government should take a tougher stance on Israel.
Earlier this month, Parliament's intelligence watchdog criticised the Government for redacting documents related to Lord Mandelson's appointment far too broadly. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has the final say on what is published as the Government complies with the humble address motion demanding the release of all files relating to the appointment. The ISC said it has made final decisions on redactions to 337 documents on national security grounds but raised concerns about wider redactions, including personal data, email addresses, and identities of junior civil servants. The committee did not think the motion allowed redactions other than on grounds of prejudice to UK national security and international relations, suggesting non-security redactions were being applied far too broadly and that the Government was withholding documents without authority.
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said the Government has taken the normal approach to redactions, telling MPs it would not be in the public interest to publish names and contact details of junior officials.
