Documents on Peter Mandelson's Appointment to be Released in Early March
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones has informed MPs that the initial tranche of documents related to Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador is expected to be published "very shortly in early March". This announcement came just minutes before the Metropolitan Police revealed that Lord Mandelson had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Police Investigation Delays Key Correspondence
Mr Jones clarified that while the government intends to proceed with the release, a subset of documents—specifically correspondence between Downing Street and Lord Mandelson—will be temporarily withheld. "Because of the Metropolitan Police interest in this document, we are unable to publish it in early March in the first tranche," he stated, adding that these papers will be released as soon as possible following consultation with law enforcement.
The former Labour minister faces allegations of passing information to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as business secretary. Police have conducted searches at two of Lord Mandelson's properties as part of their ongoing investigation.
Political Pressure and Security Concerns
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced significant criticism for appointing Lord Mandelson to the diplomatic position despite his known connections to Epstein. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has publicly called for Lord Mandelson's resignation, intensifying political pressure on the government.
In response to demands from Labour MPs and opposition parties, the Prime Minister agreed to release all documents pertaining to the appointment. Sensitive materials involving national security or international relations will be handled by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).
"There is also a small portion of that material which engages matters of national security or international relations," Mr Jones explained. "We are working with the committee to establish processes for making this material available to them."
Government's Document Release Strategy
The government has opted for a phased publication approach rather than a single comprehensive release. "The Government intends to publish documents in tranches instead of one publication at the end of the process, given that we are unable to confirm how long that process will take," Mr Jones told the Commons.
The first tranche will include documents currently held by the government, excluding those under police review or containing sensitive security information. Subsequent releases will incorporate materials gathered from various government departments through systematic searches of their archives and databases.
"Commissions have gone out across Government for those departments to search their archives and databases to bring forward any documents that relate to the terms of the humble address," Mr Jones noted. "And given the depth of the issues raised in the humble address, that of course will take some time to process."
Opposition Criticism and Government Response
Conservative politicians have accused the government of unnecessary delays in releasing the documents. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood criticized the pace, stating: "Careful work must not become a euphemism for managed delay. It is time the Government stopped treating Parliament like an inconvenient interruption to their schedule."
Mr Jones defended the government's approach, emphasizing the need to balance transparency with legal obligations. "The Government was trying to manage a criminal investigation, and I'm sure the House would not want us to inadvertently interfere with that process," he responded.
Background on Mandelson's Appointment
Lord Mandelson, a political appointee rather than a career diplomat, was dismissed from his Washington role in September last year following revelations about his connections to Epstein, who died in 2019. The Prime Minister has acknowledged being aware of Lord Mandelson's ongoing friendship with Epstein but stated the peer "lied repeatedly" about the extent of their relationship when questioned.
The forthcoming document release represents a significant development in this politically sensitive case, potentially shedding light on the appointment process and the government's handling of security concerns surrounding diplomatic nominations.
