Peter Mandelson was arrested and questioned for nine hours over misconduct in public office, following gossip passed by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to police. The incident, linked to the Epstein files frenzy, has raised questions about the presumption of innocence for public figures.
This comes amid a surge of docudramas mixing fact and fiction. ITV's The Lady depicts the murder of a boyfriend by an aide to Sarah Ferguson, while Channel 4's Dirty Business combines sewage leaks and a child's death from E coli, echoing the Post Office scandal drama.
Commentators warn that the line between truth and dramatization is blurring, with filmmakers acting as self-appointed investigators. The Epstein case, dominated by leaked emails, risks ruining lives through guilt by association rather than legal proof.
The article argues that the principle of innocent until proven guilty is under threat, urging a return to factual reporting and judicial process over speculative drama.
