Senior Barrister Attends Mandelson Residence During Ongoing Police Investigation
A prominent corporate and financial crime barrister was observed entering Peter Mandelson's London home today, as Metropolitan Police officers continue their investigation into serious allegations of misconduct in a public office. Adrian Darbishire KC, a distinguished King's Counsel, arrived at the former cabinet minister's property near Regent's Park shortly before midday, dressed in a navy blue jacket with jeans.
He departed the residence approximately ninety minutes later, but firmly declined to provide any commentary regarding whether he is formally representing Lord Mandelson in this escalating legal matter. This marks the second occasion this week that Mr Darbishire has been seen at the peer's address, having previously been present during Friday's extensive police search operation that lasted throughout the afternoon and evening.
Legal Expertise and Political Scandal Converge
Adrian Darbishire is described on the professional website of QEB Hollis Whiteman's chambers, where he serves as joint head, as "a superb tactician and a powerfully persuasive advocate." His involvement coincides with a deepening political crisis for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who broke cover this afternoon to attend a Premier League football match at Emirates Stadium with his son, watching Arsenal compete against Sunderland.
The Prime Minister finds himself embroiled in a growing scandal concerning his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as United States ambassador, despite being aware of the peer's controversial post-prison associations with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Labour MPs have entered open revolt following Starmer's admission to the House of Commons on Wednesday that he proceeded with the appointment with full knowledge of these connections.
Police Investigation Intensifies with Property Searches
The Metropolitan Police investigation centers on accusations that Mandelson transmitted market-sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as Business Secretary amid the 2008 financial crisis. Yesterday, officers executed coordinated raids on both his £12 million London residence and a rented farmhouse property in Wiltshire, utilizing folded cardboard boxes and evidence bags to collect potential materials.
While the former Labour grandee has not been arrested at this stage, detectives are expected to question him formally in the coming weeks. The offence of misconduct in a public office carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction, underscoring the gravity of the allegations.
Former Prime Minister Condemns Actions and Demands Reform
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivered forceful comments on Saturday, stating that Mandelson's secret email communications with Epstein could potentially constitute criminal activity. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Brown expressed feeling "shocked, sad, angry, betrayed, let down" upon reviewing messages disclosed by the United States Department of Justice.
"This was financially secret information," Brown emphasized. "It meant Britain was at risk because of that, the currency was at risk, some of the trading that would happen would be speculative as a result of that and there's no doubt that huge commercial damage could have been done and perhaps was done." He further demanded immediate "constitutional reform" to address corruption in political institutions and the House of Lords, urging to "let in the light and send the princes of darkness on their way."
Complex Investigation and Document Disclosure Process
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart confirmed this morning that the Metropolitan Police's investigation into Lord Mandelson will be "complex," requiring "a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis." She verified that searches at both properties have now concluded.
Simultaneously, senior government figures are preparing to surrender messages related to Mandelson's ambassadorial appointment last year. Following a parliamentary motion, Downing Street has agreed to broader disclosure of documents, including potentially embarrassing communications between ministers and senior officials. Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee will oversee this process after the government retreated from initial attempts to impose exemptions.
Revelations from Epstein Files and Political Fallout
Recently released photographs from the Epstein files show Peter Mandelson in his underwear while conversing with a woman in a bathrobe, alongside images of the disgraced financier with Mandelson on a yacht. Emails from 2009 suggest Mandelson provided Epstein with Downing Street assessments of potential policy measures, including an "asset sales plan," and discussed a bankers' bonus tax while confirming an imminent euro bailout package a day before its official announcement in 2010.
Following these disclosures, Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and relinquished his peerage, just hours before facing expulsion. He has previously expressed regret for his association with Epstein but maintains through BBC reports that his actions were not criminal and not for personal gain. Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for orchestrating a global child sex trafficking network, with his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell currently imprisoned for her role in recruiting victims.
A spokesperson for Mandelson stated: "Lord Mandelson regrets, and will regret until his dying day, that he believed Epstein's lies about his criminality. Lord Mandelson did not discover the truth about Epstein until after his death in 2019. He is profoundly sorry that powerless and vulnerable women and girls were not given the protection they deserved."
