Cabinet Office Issues Directive to Ministers Over Mandelson Communications
The Cabinet Office has issued a stern warning to government ministers, advising them against following the example set by Health Secretary Wes Streeting in publishing private messages exchanged with Lord Peter Mandelson. This directive comes amid an ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation into alleged misconduct in a public office concerning Mandelson's historical interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Police Emphasize Importance of Due Process
Scotland Yard reinforced the seriousness of the situation on Tuesday, stating unequivocally that it was "vital due process is followed" to prevent any compromise of their criminal investigation. The probe centers on accusations that the peer passed market-sensitive information to Epstein during the 2000s, when Mandelson served as business secretary following the 2008 financial crisis.
The police warning followed Mr. Streeting's decision to release a transcript of messages spanning from August 2024 to October 2025 between himself and Lord Mandelson. The Health Secretary took this action on Monday in an attempt to distance himself from the embattled peer, claiming he was responding to "smear and innuendo" that emerged over the weekend during a briefing war between his allies and those of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Published Exchanges Reveal Government Concerns
Among the published communications were candid expressions of concern from Mr. Streeting regarding the government's economic direction. The messages revealed the Health Secretary's worry that the administration had "no growth strategy" and his fear that he would be "toast" at the next general election.
When questioned about these remarks, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended his government's economic record on Tuesday, insisting that Chancellor Rachel Reeves was "turning the economy around." Speaking at an event in Hertfordshire, Sir Keir emphasized the need to nurture economic recovery and ensure it translated into tangible improvements in people's financial situations.
Prime Minister Calls for Coordinated Approach
The Prime Minister stressed that the release of information must constitute a "managed process" and that his government should be "acting together in this." He specifically addressed the issue of text messages and other information being gathered as a result of last week's humble address in Parliament, noting that this needed to be handled carefully both within government and in consideration of the police investigation.
When pressed on whether he had reprimanded Mr. Streeting for unilaterally releasing his messages, Sir Keir responded that all government members needed to ensure they were "acting together" because all relevant information required proper coordination and compilation.
Metropolitan Police Outline Investigation Parameters
In an official statement released on Tuesday, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson detailed the investigation's scope: "An investigation into alleged misconduct in public office is under way and it is vital due process is followed so that our criminal investigation and any potential prosecution is not compromised."
The spokesperson confirmed that police would review material identified and provided by the Cabinet Office to assess whether publication might detrimentally impact their investigation or any subsequent prosecution. The Metropolitan Police committed to working alongside the Cabinet Office to examine relevant documents in the coming weeks, while acknowledging that the ultimate decision about which documents should be published remained a matter for government and Parliament.
Political Implications for Streeting's Ambitions
Mr. Streeting's association with Lord Mandelson has been viewed by Westminster observers as a potential obstacle should he seek to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader. The Health Secretary continues to attract speculation about his leadership ambitions despite the current controversy.
On Tuesday, Sir Keir's official spokesman declined to comment specifically on whether Mr. Streeting had followed proper procedures before publishing his messages, stating only that the government was "cooperating fully with the Met investigation." When directly questioned about the Health Secretary's disclosure, the spokesman responded: "I'm not going to comment on the Health Secretary's disclosure of those messages, that's for him."
Parliamentary Oversight of Document Release
Government officials are preparing to submit substantial volumes of material to Parliament's security watchdog amid mounting pressure to reveal the extent of knowledge about Lord Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein when he was selected for the prestigious Washington ambassadorial position last year.
Following a Commons motion, Downing Street agreed to release all documents related to Mandelson's appointment, including potentially embarrassing messages between ministers and senior officials. Control over which files enter the public domain has been transferred to Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) after Labour backlash against No 10's initial attempt to include exemptions to protect international relations.
ISC chairman Lord Beamish assured that the committee would not "do anything which would undermine" the police investigation. Sir Keir Starmer has expressed confidence that the files will demonstrate that the former Labour grandee misrepresented the depth of his association with the paedophile financier during his vetting for the UK's top diplomatic posting abroad.
The Prime Minister has apologized for his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson but has vowed to remain in office to fulfill what he describes as "my mandate and my responsibility to my country." This commitment comes despite renewed calls for his resignation from within his own party, including from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
