Additional documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US are expected to be published before Christmas, the Cabinet Office has confirmed. The move follows a Metropolitan Police assessment that some previously withheld files can now be released without harming its investigation.
Police Clear Documents for Publication
Cat Little, permanent secretary to the Cabinet Office, confirmed in a letter that the Met Police had informed her department that a number of documents could be published without prejudicing their investigation. She said the Cabinet Office is beginning the process to prepare these documents so they may be laid before the House in response to the humble address motion as soon as possible, adding that she anticipates the process will be completed before the House rises for the Christmas recess on December 17.
Ms Little wrote that the documents will need to be reviewed to assess whether redactions are required to avoid prejudice to national security or international relations, and therefore referral to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC). Members of the ISC will be able to see the unredacted files before wider publication, with some information concealed. Some documents will continue to be held back at the request of the Metropolitan Police to avoid prejudicing an ongoing investigation, the permanent secretary said.
Background to the Scandal
The Mandelson scandal contributed to Keir Starmer's downfall after it emerged the peer coached Jeffrey Epstein through "years of torture" over underage sex charges. Mr Starmer sacked Lord Mandelson from his ambassador role in September 2025 after leaked emails showed the peer sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences, and later said Lord Mandelson "repeatedly lied" to him over the extent of his relationship with Epstein.
The Met Police launched a criminal investigation into the Labour evidence amid allegations that Lord Mandelson, 72, passed market-sensitive information to the disgraced billionaire. Lord Mandelson, who has repeatedly denied criminal wrongdoing, was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Previous Document Releases
In February, the government agreed to MPs' demands to release documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to Epstein. Two tranches containing thousands of pages of documents, including WhatsApp messages, emails and handwritten notes, were released in March and June, but some were held back due to the police probe.
Previous releases revealed that Lord Mandelson received a £75,000 severance payment when he was sacked as Britain's ambassador, but asked for more than half a million pounds. The documents also showed a member of the department's Government Security Group, involved in Lord Mandelson's security clearance, appearing to admit not knowing how an enhanced clearance system, known as Strap, worked.
In addition to her letter to Lord Beamish, the Labour peer who chairs the ISC, Ms Little wrote to Conservative MP Simon Hoare, chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, and Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. A Met Police spokesperson said: "Our investigation into alleged misconduct in public office is ongoing."
