Peter Mandelson Arrested in Epstein Leaks Investigation
Peter Mandelson, the former Labour minister and architect of New Labour, found himself in a police cell on Monday following his dramatic arrest at his London residence. The 72-year-old peer was taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with detectives investigating allegations that he leaked sensitive government information to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as business secretary.
Arrest Details and Political Fallout
Ashen-faced and flanked by suit-clad officers, Mandelson was led from his £7.6 million Regent's Park home yesterday afternoon, clenching his jaw as he was ushered into an unmarked police vehicle. The arrest occurred just four days after similar allegations led to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the UK trade envoy, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing scandal.
This development heaps immense pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced fierce criticism for approving Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington before the peer underwent comprehensive national security vetting. It was widely known prior to the December 2024 appointment that Mandelson, often dubbed Labour's 'Prince of Darkness', maintained a close friendship with Epstein, a convicted paedophile.
Police Investigation and Evidence
Scotland Yard's central specialist crime division has spent weeks meticulously analysing evidence from the three million pages of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice, alongside government documents and materials seized during raids on Mandelson's London and Wiltshire properties a fortnight ago. Emails within these files suggest that both Mandelson, who served as de-facto deputy Prime Minister under Gordon Brown, and Andrew may have passed potentially sensitive information from official briefings to Epstein.
Documents indicate Mandelson could have leaked details about policy measures, including an 'asset sales plan', a tax on bankers' bonuses, and a euro bailout package in 2010, just one day before their official announcement. Neither Mandelson nor Andrew has publicly commented on these claims, but both are understood to deny any wrongdoing.
Government Response and Calls for Transparency
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch declared Mandelson's arrest as 'the defining moment of Keir Starmer's premiership', urging the government to release all files related to the controversial ambassadorial posting. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood criticised the government's handling of the matter, accusing it of moving with 'the urgency of a tired sloth on a Bank Holiday Monday'.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones informed MPs that officials are sifting through vast numbers of documents and intend to release the first tranche in 'early March', though Scotland Yard has advised against immediate publication of some exchanges to avoid prejudicing potential prosecutions.
Background and Denials
Mandelson has repeatedly expressed regret over his friendship with Epstein, which continued even after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor. The former minister has denied receiving $75,000 in payments from Epstein between 2003 and 2004, claiming no recollection of such transactions, and has also refuted allegations that Epstein funded an osteopathy course for his husband in 2009.
Downing Street has denied cutting corners on Mandelson's security vetting, asserting that full checks were conducted, albeit fast-tracked to meet deployment deadlines. Mandelson recently resigned his seat in the House of Lords amid mounting public pressure, and police searches of his properties have intensified the scrutiny on his connections to Epstein.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson confirmed the arrest, stating: 'Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was arrested at an address in Camden and has been taken to a London police station for interview.'
