Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to face questions from MPs at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, his first Commons appearance since the arrest of Lord Peter Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Lord Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, was taken from his London home by police just before 4.30pm on Tuesday and released on bail until May. He is accused of passing sensitive information to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is expected to grill Starmer over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson to the Washington role despite his known links to Epstein. MPs have forced the release of documents related to the appointment, with some files due to be published next month.
Lawyers for Lord Mandelson claimed he was arrested despite an agreement to speak voluntarily, after a 'baseless suggestion' that he planned to leave the country. They said: 'There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any such suggestion.' The Metropolitan Police declined to comment beyond confirming the arrest and bail.
The arrest follows that of Prince Andrew last week on similar allegations of sharing information with Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy. MPs have backed the release of files related to Andrew's appointment, though the government warned it cannot publish material needed for police inquiries.
One minister criticised Andrew in the Commons on Tuesday, calling him a 'rude, arrogant and entitled man' on a 'constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle'. Andrew, who spent 11 hours in custody, has denied wrongdoing but not directly responded to the latest allegations.
