The Cabinet Office, Prime Minister, and Metropolitan Police have urged ministers to exercise caution after Health Secretary Wes Streeting published his private WhatsApp exchanges with former ambassador Peter Mandelson. The warning comes amid a police investigation into alleged misconduct in public office linked to the release of Epstein documents.
In a message to officials, the Cabinet Office reportedly stated that government members should not share material potentially covered by a Commons motion compelling the release of documents related to Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. The Met Police are investigating claims that Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.
The Met Police issued a statement on Tuesday emphasising the importance of due process to avoid compromising their investigation. “It is vital due process is followed so that our criminal investigation and any potential prosecution is not compromised,” a spokesperson said.
Streeting published dozens of messages exchanged between August 2024 and October 2025, in which he criticised the government's lack of a growth strategy and questioned No 10's communications operation. The remarks appeared to position him for a potential leadership contest.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the release of information must be a “managed process” and that the government should be “acting together in this.” He added that all information needs to be pulled together, noting the police element involved.
Officers have searched two properties connected to Mandelson as part of the investigation. The Met Police will review material provided by the Cabinet Office to assess whether publication could impact their inquiry.
