Mandelson's Epstein Friendship Exposed in Released Vetting Papers
Keir Starmer faces a fresh political storm today as the first batch of vetting documents concerning Labour grandee Peter Mandelson have been released to the public. The explosive papers confirm that Mandelson was handed a £75,000 payoff following his dismissal as US ambassador, a role that paid £160,000 annually, due to his ongoing friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. It has emerged that the disgraced peer had initially demanded half a million pounds in compensation for the loss of his prestigious diplomatic position.
Starmer's Awareness and Parliamentary Fallout
The newly published government documents reveal that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was aware of Mandelson's continued association with Epstein when he appointed him in December 2024. This information comes in the wake of a massive trove of Epstein's personal emails being released by the American administration, adding further context to the scandal.
Sir Keir, who only agreed to disclose the material after facing a significant revolt from Labour MPs, will not personally address the documents in Parliament today. Instead, his chief minister Darren Jones will deliver a statement to the House of Commons following the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session. The initial release is expected to comprise approximately 200 pages, with thousands more to follow at a later date.
The timing of this release has prompted accusations from the Conservative Party that the Prime Minister is attempting to evade direct questioning on the matter. This development marks another dramatic day in Westminster politics, with far-reaching implications for the government's transparency and accountability.
Key Revelations from the Documents
The documents include a three-page 'due diligence' summary prepared for the Prime Minister prior to Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. This summary reportedly references his ongoing friendship with Epstein and highlights significant 'reputational' risks associated with the appointment. It is understood that very limited redactions have been made to the material, with oversight provided by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee.
A former No10 aide has publicly condemned Lord Mandelson for his lack of 'contrition' regarding the sharing of sensitive government information with Epstein. Nick Butler, who served as a senior Downing Street official under Gordon Brown, expressed his disappointment on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, stating, 'I'm very sorry there's been no note of contrition from Peter Mandelson to the people whose trust he broke.'
Butler emphasized that any legal consequences for the peer should be handled by the Metropolitan Police and the judicial system, but his comments underscore the broader concerns about information security within government circles.
Political Repercussions and Ongoing Investigations
Last month, the House of Commons approved a motion mandating the release of a wide range of material, including potentially embarrassing messages between Lord Mandelson and government ministers and officials. Following this vote, Sir Keir apologized for believing Mandelson's 'lies' about the extent of his relationship with Epstein and pledged to ensure 'urgency and transparency' in the matter.
However, the scandal triggered a major crisis in Downing Street, nearly resulting in the Prime Minister's ousting and leading to the resignation of his chief aide Morgan McSweeney. During Prime Minister's Questions on February 4, Kemi Badenoch directly questioned Sir Keir about whether the official security vetting mentioned Mandelson's ongoing relationship with Epstein, to which the Premier replied affirmatively, noting that various questions had been put to Mandelson as a result.
Some files are being withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons, with the final decision resting with the Intelligence and Security Committee. Initially, ministers sought to give the Cabinet Secretary control over which papers would be released, but they ultimately conceded to pressure from mutinous backbenchers.
The government has also established a framework with the Metropolitan Police to determine which documents can be released without prejudicing the ongoing criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson. Mandelson 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. He has since been bailed, had his passport returned, and is currently under investigation, while denying any criminal wrongdoing or personal gain.
Conservative Criticism and Government Response
Tory frontbencher Neil O'Brien expressed outrage at the payoff awarded to Mandelson, describing it as a '£70,000 bung for betraying Britain.' Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart added, 'His fingers are all over this. He's already admitted that he knew about Mandelson's ongoing relationship with Epstein when he appointed him. Time and again his judgment has been found wanting.'
In media appearances this morning, Darren Jones defended the parliamentary timetable, explaining that his statement had to follow PMQs due to Commons scheduling. He told Times Radio, 'We were always teed up to report in early March with the first tranche of documents, which is what we're doing this afternoon.' Jones emphasized that a second tranche of documents will be released later, pending further government work and considerations related to the live criminal investigation and oversight by the Intelligence and Security Committee.
On ITV's Good Morning Britain, Jones reiterated the Prime Minister's apology for Mandelson's appointment, calling it a mistake. He stated, 'The documents that will be published today later to Parliament will provide full transparency about the appointments process, bar one document that has been held back by the Metropolitan Police because of an ongoing criminal investigation.'
Jones further explained that the full depth of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein only became apparent after documents were published by Bloomberg and the United States Department of Justice, leading to his prompt dismissal as ambassador. On Sky News, he affirmed the government's commitment to transparency, noting, 'It's a big number of documents. Government takes its responsibility to be transparent to Parliament really seriously.'
Timeline of the Mandelson-Epstein Relationship
The documents and associated reports outline a long-standing connection between Mandelson and Epstein, dating back to at least 2002. Key moments include:
- 2002: Mandelson attended a party at Epstein's Manhattan home, with the first emails between them beginning around this time.
- 2003: Mandelson referred to Epstein as his 'best pal' in a message, with bank statements showing payments from Epstein to accounts linked to Mandelson.
- 2006: As Epstein faced charges in Florida, Mandelson offered support, stating, 'I am here whenever you need.'
- 2008-2009: Epstein was sentenced to prison, and Mandelson urged him to 'fight for early release,' later staying at his apartment while he was incarcerated.
- 2010: Mandelson allegedly leaked sensitive No10 documents to Epstein, including tax policy plans and meeting minutes.
- 2013-2016: Contact between the two continued, with visits and communications documented until at least 2016.
- 2025: Starmer appointed Mandelson as US ambassador in February, only to sack him in September after the extent of the Epstein relationship was revealed.
- 2026: Mandelson was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following his resignation from the House of Lords and removal from the Privy Council.
This comprehensive release of documents aims to shed light on one of the most contentious political appointments in recent memory, with ongoing investigations and parliamentary scrutiny ensuring the saga remains at the forefront of British politics.
