The Metropolitan Police has apologised to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after inadvertently revealing him as the source of a tipoff that led to the arrest of former minister Peter Mandelson. The error, described internally as a serious breach of protocol, occurred when an official custody document shared with Mandelson's lawyers mistakenly referred to the 'Lords speaker' as the source—a reference to Hoyle, who is the Commons speaker.
Hoyle confirmed to MPs on Wednesday that he passed information to police after receiving it from an individual in a position of authority in the British Virgin Islands. He had visited the territory the previous week for a three-day trip marking the 75th anniversary of its assembly. Senior Scotland Yard officers met Hoyle in person on Wednesday afternoon to explain the mistake.
Mandelson, who is being investigated for alleged misconduct in public office, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of planning to flee to the British Virgin Islands. He denies any wrongdoing and has described the claims as 'complete fiction'. His lawyers have written to the Met demanding evidence for the arrest, which they say contradicted a prior agreement for a voluntary interview in March. Mandelson was released on bail early Tuesday and has surrendered his passport.
The former business secretary and ex-ambassador to Washington was sacked in September 2024 after details emerged about his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces pressure to release documents related to Mandelson's appointment, following a Conservative-led Commons motion earlier this month.
