Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister's handling of Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States, alleging that crucial documents have been deliberately removed from official government files.
Missing Information and Alleged Cover-Up
During a visit to Flannery Plant Hire in Wembley, north London, on Thursday, Ms Badenoch told the Press Association that "a lot of information is missing" from the released files, including instructions she expected to see from the Prime Minister. "I've been a minister and a secretary of state," she stated. "The comments which Sir Keir Starmer would have put on the box notes, those are the cover notes where you explain what you want to happen, are missing. They have been removed. We need the full details of what the Prime Minister did. There is still a cover-up going on."
Accusations of Dishonesty
The Tory leader expressed astonishment at the Prime Minister's conduct, declaring: "I am astonished that the Prime Minister can actually look himself in the mirror right now. It is very clear that he told lie after lie after lie about the appointment of Peter Mandelson. He wanted to make this all about Peter Mandelson. This is about his judgments. He has been dishonest with Parliament and with the country."
Ms Badenoch went further, suggesting that Labour MPs should question their leader's fitness for office: "And Labour MPs, in good conscience, should be looking at whether or not this man should be leading our country."
Questionable Severance Payment
Adding to her criticisms, Ms Badenoch highlighted the controversial £75,000 severance payout awarded to Lord Mandelson following his dismissal from the Washington position. She told broadcasters: "The Prime Minister told the country that Peter Mandelson had lied to him, that he'd lied to him throughout the appointment. If someone has been dishonest and lied, you don't give them a severance payment. So something very dodgy has happened."
Call for Resignation
Mrs Badenoch asserted that "in any normal circumstances the Prime Minister would be resigning" after "he's been shown to have lied to the Commons" and displayed a "complete lack of judgment." When questioned about potential moves against Sir Keir Starmer, she revealed: "That's a discussion that a few of them have had with the whips," indicating that Labour MPs have been considering a vote of no confidence.
Background of the Released Files
The controversy stems from 31 government files released on Wednesday concerning Lord Mandelson's appointment. Before their release, material potentially harmful to national security or international relations was reviewed by the Intelligence and Security Committee, which considered government requests for redactions. These included personal information of junior officials and a "small amount" of Lord Mandelson's data, such as his home address, signature, and Foreign Office staff number.
Notably absent from the released files was correspondence between Number 10 and Lord Mandelson, which contained follow-up questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The Labour veteran was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his tenure as business secretary under Gordon Brown. Although subsequently bailed and later released from bail conditions, he remains under investigation.
