Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to release all information relating to his appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, after police announced a criminal investigation into the former Labour minister.
The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday evening that Lord Mandelson would be investigated over allegations of misconduct in a public office following the release of documents that appear to show that he leaked sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) last Friday appear to show that Lord Mandelson passed material to Epstein while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown's Labour administration as it dealt with the 2008 financial crash and its aftermath.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded Downing Street explain the vetting process behind the appointment.
On Wednesday, the Conservative Party intends to table a humble address motion - an arcane parliamentary mechanism which can be used to compel the government to produce documents.
The Tories will seek the release of the due diligence work carried out by the Cabinet Office and emails between Lord Mandelson and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney relating to his association with Epstein.
What are the main revelations from the new Epstein files release?
Quitting Labour isn’t enough – of course Peter Mandelson deserves to be thrown out of the Lords
Can Starmer forcibly remove Mandelson’s peerage over the Epstein scandal?
How Lord Mandelson fell from grace
Mandelson could face police probe over government files leaked to Epstein
Key Points
- Police launch criminal investigation into allegations against ex-ambassador
- Lord Mandelson to step down from House of Lords
- Government passes information to police as Starmer orders investigation into Mandelson’s time in office
- New revelations about Sarah Ferguson emerge after latest release of Epstein files
- Andrew congratulated Epstein on his release from house arrest
- Mandelson insists he won’t ‘hide under a rock’ despite ‘shocking’ email revelations
Pictured: Epstein and Mandelson together in latest release
Monday 2 February 2026 23:00 , Bryony Gooch
The 11 most explosive emails between Epstein and Mandelson
04:00 , Jane DaltonIn case you missed it:
Editorial: Mandelson’s fate intertwined with government's
03:00 , Jane Dalton
Mandelson’s fate is now intertwined with that of the Labour government
Timeline of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein
02:00 , Jane Dalton
Timeline of Lord Mandelson’s controversial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
Starmer must give police evidence, says Badenoch
01:00 , Jane DaltonKemi Badenoch said Sir Keir Starmer should provide evidence to the police in their Lord Mandelson investigation if required, calling the affair a "national embarrassment".
The Tory leader said the launch of the criminal investigation was inevitable but "should not let this distract us from the fact that the Prime Minister has his fingerprints all over this".
She told Sky News: "I think the Prime Minister has a lot of questions to answer, and not just him, but his chief of staff, and all the people in No 10 who pushed this appointment.
"I think it is a national embarrassment. There are many people who should have been given that job, or who should have been interviewed for that job, and they didn't get a chance."
Asked whether police should interview Sir Keir, Mrs Badenoch said: "I think the police will make that call. But if there is evidence that shows that there is something to do with the Prime Minister, then, of course, yes.
"But, right now, I think the Prime Minister himself needs to come clean and tell us what he knew and when, and be honest about how this ever happened in the first place."
The Conservative Party plans to table a humble address motion, an arcane parliamentary mechanism, to force the government to release all information on Sir Keir Starmer's appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador last year.
Government 'ready to help police probe'
Tuesday 3 February 2026 23:59 , Jane DaltonA government spokesperson said the government stood ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police need in their investigation.
Commander Ella Marriott, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK Government.
"I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences.
"The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won't be commenting any further at this time."
Watch: Lib Dems call for national inquiry into Epstein’s links with Mandelson
Tuesday 3 February 2026 23:00 , Jane Dalton
Fresh call for national inquiry into Epstein’s links with Mandelson
Breaking: Andrew 'moving out of Royal Lodge' according to reports
Tuesday 3 February 2026 22:46 , Bryony GoochAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor has moved out of his home in Windsor to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk according to the BBC, Sky News and The Sun.
The former prince left Royal Lodge on Monday night and is currently living in a temporary property on the Sandringham Estate while his permanent home undergoes renovations.
Buckingham Palace did not comment on the matter when contacted by The Independent.
Police assessing claim woman was ‘sent to UK for sex with Andrew’
Tuesday 3 February 2026 22:15 , Jane Dalton
Police assessing claim woman was ‘sent to UK for sex with Andrew’
Tories seek to force Starmer to release Mandelson appointment papers
Tuesday 3 February 2026 22:00 , Jane DaltonThe Conservatives will seek to force the government to release all information on Sir Keir Starmer's appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch demanded Downing Street explain the vetting process as she claimed concerns were "waived away" so that the prime minister could make "a political appointment of a man who is a close friend of a convicted paedophile".
The Conservative Party on Wednesday intends to table a humble address motion, an arcane parliamentary mechanism which can be used to compel the government to produce documents.
Information it will demand be published include the due diligence work carried out by the Cabinet Office, emails between Lord Mandelson and the Prime Minister's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney relating to his association with Epstein, minutes of meetings held about the appointment and details of payments made to Lord Mandelson on his departure from the Washington role.
Humble addresses, if passed, are binding on ministers.
No records found in Mandelson's mailbox, Brown tells police
Tuesday 3 February 2026 20:58 , Jane DaltonEx-prime minister Gordon Brown has written to the chief of the Metropolitan Police with information relating to Lord Mandelson's alleged disclosure of market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.
He said he had given Sir Mark Rowley information relating to an "inexcusable and unpatriotic act".
Newly released emails from 2009 appeared to show Lord Mandelson shared sensitive information on at least four occasions.
Mr Brown told the Press Association: "I have included the letter I sent in September 2025 asking the Cabinet Secretary to investigate the veracity of information contained in the Epstein papers regarding the sale of assets arising from the banking collapse and communications about them between Lord Mandelson and Mr Epstein.
"I have also included the November 2026 (sic) response from the Cabinet Secretary who said about this that 'no records of information or correspondence from Lord Mandelson's mailbox' could be found.”
It has been reported that Lord Mandelson used a private email address to correspond with senior government figures and Epstein, and that the Cabinet Office cannot retrieve the messages because it is now defunct.
Government says it will support police investigation
Tuesday 3 February 2026 19:30 , Daniel KeaneThe Government has said it will provide any support the Metropolitan Police needs in its criminal investigation into allegations Lord Peter Mandelson leaked confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein.
A Government spokesperson said: "The Government stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police need."
Badenoch welcomes investigation into Mandelson
Tuesday 3 February 2026 19:16 , Daniel KeaneConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said it is “right” there is a full criminal investigation into allegations Lord Peter Mandelson passed market sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.
However, she told broadcasters it “should not distract from the fact that the Prime Minister appointed a man who was the close friend and associate of a notorious and convicted paedophile”.
Met Police release statement on Mandelson
Tuesday 3 February 2026 19:01 , Daniel KeaneThe Met Police have released a full statement on the investigation into Lord Mandelson.
Commander Ella Marriott, from the Metropolitan Police, said: "Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK Government.
"I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.
"The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won't be commenting any further at this time."
Mandelson facing police probe over Epstein emails as he quits House of Lords - full report
Tuesday 3 February 2026 18:39 , Jane Dalton
Mandelson facing police probe over Epstein emails as he quits House of Lords
Mandelson facing police probe over Epstein emails as he quits House of Lords - full report
Tuesday 3 February 2026 18:39 , Jane DaltonMandelson facing police probe over Epstein emails as he quits House of Lords
Criminal investigation into Mandelson claims launched
Tuesday 3 February 2026 18:13 , Jane DaltonA criminal investigation has been launched into allegations Lord Peter Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, the Press Association is reporting.
Epstein’s ‘dog muck’ smell won’t wash off Labour
Tuesday 3 February 2026 17:45 , Jane Dalton
Epstein’s ‘dog muck’ is now a smell that Labour can’t wash off
The 11 most explosive emails between Epstein and Mandelson
Tuesday 3 February 2026 17:10 , Jane DaltonBrown slates 'inexcusable and unpatriotic act'
Tuesday 3 February 2026 16:43 , Jane DaltonGordon Brown has written to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley "with information relevant to his investigation of Lord Mandelson's disclosure of market-sensitive and confidential Government information" to Jeffrey Epstein.
He told the Press Association: "I have today written to the Met Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley with information relevant to his investigation of Lord Mandelson's disclosure of market sensitive and confidential Government information to the American financier, Jeffrey Epstein, an inexcusable and unpatriotic act at a time when the whole government and country were attempting to address the global financial crisis that was damaging so many livelihoods.
"I have sent Sir Mark correspondence, exchanged between myself and the Cabinet Secretary last year, and I have also passed over information arising from it that may be important in his current investigation.
"I have included the letter I sent in September 2025 asking the Cabinet Secretary to investigate the veracity of information contained in the Epstein papers regarding the sale of assets arising from the banking collapse and communications about them between Lord Mandelson and Mr Epstein.
"I have also included the November 2026 response from the Cabinet Secretary who said about this that 'no records of information or correspondence from Lord Mandelson's mailbox' could be found.
"Having drawn their attention to relevant evidence, the matter now rests in the hands of the police."
Gordon Brown gives information to police chief
Tuesday 3 February 2026 16:38 , Jane DaltonLabour former prime minister Gordon Brown says he has written to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley "with information relevant to his investigation of Lord Mandelson's disclosure of market-sensitive and confidential Government information" to Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer says Mandelson was right to quit Lords
Tuesday 3 February 2026 16:21 , Jane DaltonA Downing Street spokesman said: "It is right that Peter Mandelson will no longer be a member of the House of Lords.
"As the Prime Minister said this morning, Peter Mandelson let his country down."
Sir Keir Starmer told his cabinet earlier today he had made clear the government would co-operate with the police in any inquiries they carried out, but he that the government had to go further, working at speed in the Lords, including legislatively if necessary, the prime minister's spokesman said.
Watch: Moment Lords speaker announces Mandelson to step down
Tuesday 3 February 2026 16:10 , Jane Dalton
Watch: Moment House of Lords speaker announces Mandelson to step down
Prince Edward breaks silence over Andrew-Epstein furore
Tuesday 3 February 2026 15:52 , Jane Dalton
Prince Edward breaks silence over Andrew-Epstein controversy
Mandelson could have breached Official Secrets Act, says Farage
Tuesday 3 February 2026 15:40 , Jane DaltonReform UK leader Nigel Farage has questioned whether Lord Mandelson breached the Official Secrets Act in his discussions with Jeffrey Epstein.
He said: "It is highly sensitive market information. It is government secrets.
"I also wonder whether, in emails to Epstein, he talked about the security apparatus that exists underneath No 10 and at the heart of Whitehall. That is information that is of national security importance. "
Peers rarely stand down in disgrace
Tuesday 3 February 2026 15:24 , Jane DaltonIt’s almost unheard of for a peer to step down from the House of Lords in disgrace.
However, in December, two members were suspended from the upper chamber for several months after being found to have exploited their positions for financial gain.
Two House of Lords peers suspended after breaking lobbying rules
Watch: Mandelson to quit House of Lords
Tuesday 3 February 2026 15:20 , Jane DaltonMandelson retires tomorrow
Tuesday 3 February 2026 15:05 , Jane DaltonLord Mandelson will formally retire from the House of Lords tomorrow, the newly installed Lord Speaker Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said.
He told the upper chamber: "Given the public interest and for the convenience of the House, I've decided to inform the House that the clerk of the Parliaments has today received notification from Lord Mandelson of his intention to retire from the House, effective from February 4.
"I will formally notify this to the house tomorrow in the usual way."
Mandelson to step down from House of Lords
Tuesday 3 February 2026 15:00 , Jane Dalton
Mandelson to step down from House of Lords amid Epstein email scandal
Mandelson to quit Lords
Tuesday 3 February 2026 14:54 , Jane DaltonBreaking news: Lord Mandelson is to step down from the House of Lords, it has been announced by the Lord Speaker.
Starmer escalates UK’s response to emails
Tuesday 3 February 2026 14:51 , Jane DaltonAnalysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor:
It is not often that the government calls in the police. Still less often that the matter involves a former senior cabinet minister.
Yet that is exactly what has happened today, and with it Keir Starmer has significantly escalated the UK’s response to the Mandelson-Epstein scandal.
In an extraordinary denunciation, the prime minister also said his former ambassador to Washington had let his country down and indicated a plan of action to have him removed from the House of Lords.
Lord Mandelson has given an interview in which he appeared to suggest he still had much to contribute to British public life. But it looks like there is no chance of that on Sir Keir's watch.
Mandelson actions dubbed 'betrayal on many levels'
Tuesday 3 February 2026 14:47 , Jane DaltonHealth Secretary Wes Streeting says Lord Mandelson's actions were a "betrayal on so many levels" - to Epstein's victims, through continued association with him after his 2008 conviction for prostituting a minor, to the current Prime Minister and to Gordon Brown.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live the prime minister had ordered an investigation into what was known and why "only now do we know the full extent of what Peter Mandelson was up to".
Former deputy Labour leader Baroness Harman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she had long viewed Lord Mandelson as "untrustworthy" but "even I have been shocked at the degree of his wrongdoing".
'Dismissive' Mandelson embodies 'heart of Westminster's problem', journalist says
Tuesday 3 February 2026 14:00 , Tara CobhamA journalist has described Peter Mandelson as “dismissive rather than charming“, with this going “to the heart of Westminster's problem”.
Sky News’ lead politics presenter Sophy Ridge said in a post on X: “People who look at Westminster, in the same way as they might look at Washington, and think, this is a closed group of elites, who all know each other, who go to the same parties, and share the same in jokes – well, to a large extent, they are right.”
She continued: “Status is everything... And Peter Mandelson is the embodiment of that. Charming, well-connected, gossipy. In the inner circle.
“If we're honest with ourselves, that's the reason he's been allowed to fail and then be rehabilitated so many times. It's the reason he was given the best job in politics, US Ambassador, despite being friends with a paedophile. And it's the reason he's had a softer landing than many others would have in his position.”
Peter Mandelson is obviously a very charming man. Funny, well connected, gossipy, you hear a lot of people talk about him with affection in Westminster.
— Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) February 3, 2026
My own stand out memory of him is a little different. The first time I met him was at my first ever Labour Party conference, I…
Government passes information to police as Starmer orders investigation into Mandelson’s time in office
Tuesday 3 February 2026 13:44 , Tara CobhamWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
The prime minister has ordered an investigation into Lord Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein while in government.
The cabinet office has also referred assessments of the original emails to the Metropolitan Police today.
It is understood this was at the government’s instigation and had not been requested by police.
The Met Police already said on Monday that they were reviewing reports into alleged misconduct in a public office after the peer was accused of leaking sensitive information to Epstein while he was a cabinet minister in Gordon Brown’s government.
Starmer says Mandelson ‘let his country down’ and asks officials to draw up law to kick him out of Lords
Tuesday 3 February 2026 13:27 , Tara CobhamWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Sir Keir Starmer opened cabinet today by saying he was “appalled” at the emails that have emerged between Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.
He told his ministers that the alleged passing on of government information was “disgraceful”.
He also admitted there could be more to come in the scandal.
And he said that for the public to see a politician say they cannot recall significant sums of money was “gobsmacking”.
The prime minister has also asked officials to draft legislation to kick him out of the House of Lords.
He said Lord Mandelson had “let his country down” and his actions risked undermining voters’ faith in politics.
Andrew congratulated Epstein on his release from house arrest
Tuesday 3 February 2026 13:15 , Tara CobhamAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor appeared to congratulate Jeffrey Epstein about the conclusion of his house arrest, according to newly-released documents.
The US Justice Department on Friday published the third tranche of millions of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 as he awaited a trial on sex trafficking charges.
The latest documents appear to include emails between Andrew and Epstein from 2010 - two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. Epstein served 13 months in jail before being released on probation under house arrest until summer 2010.
An exchange between Epstein and an email account named “The Duke”, from which messages were signed “HRH The Duke of York KG”, dated late July 2010 show the two appearing to make plans to meet.
On 24 July 2010, Epstein emailed to say “I will be in Paris starting tomorrow.”
That same day, ‘The Duke” replied: “Congratulations! [Redacted] told me you were allowed out from yesterday. How long in Paris for? I am back in London from 16th. A”.
Read more here:
Andrew congratulated Epstein on his release from house arrest
New revelations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor also emerge
Tuesday 3 February 2026 13:00 , Tara CobhamNew revelations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have also emerged following the release of the latest tranche of Epstein documents by the US Department of Justice.
In one email, from the former Duke of York, he can be seen inviting Epstein to what is thought to be Buckingham Palace, in the months after the sex offender was released from house arrest. In an exchange on 29 September 2010, Andrew said: “Delighted for you to come here to BP. Come with whomever.”
New revelations about Sarah Ferguson emerge after latest release of Epstein files
Tuesday 3 February 2026 12:45 , Tara CobhamNew revelations about Sarah Ferguson have emerged after the latest tranche of Epstein documents was released by the US Department of Justice on Friday.
An email to the disgraced billionaire from a sender called Sarah, whom The Independent believes to be the former duchess, has emerged, which reads: “No woman has ever left the royal family with her head, and the [sic] cannot behead me, therefore they will discredit me.”
Tories planning a vote on releasing the vetting documents for Mandelson
Tuesday 3 February 2026 12:30 , Tara CobhamPolitical editor David Maddox reports:
Kemi Badenoch is considering forcing a vote to release the documents on the vetting Peter Mandelson received ahead of being appointed ambassador to the US in January last year.
The appointment came despite warnings from the Donald Trump administration over Mandelson’s links to China and the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Independent also revealed that MI6 and the security agencies did not pass Mandelson in the vetting process with concerns also raised by them about China and Epstein.
The Tories have an opposition vote tomorrow and are now understood to be considering a vote on disclosing the vetting documents to provide transparency on why Sir Keir Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney pushed the appointment through.
Mandelson insists Epstein’s money did not influence his actions in office
Tuesday 3 February 2026 12:00 , Tara CobhamLord Mandelson has insisted Jeffrey Epstein’s money did not influence his actions in office.
In a Times interview conducted before the latest allegations came to light, Lord Mandelson admitted to a “lapse in judgment” over Epstein’s funding of an osteopathy course for the peer’s husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva in 2009, at the time the government was dealing with the global financial crisis.
The files contain reference to a £10,000 transfer from Epstein.
“In retrospect, it was clearly a lapse in our collective judgment for Reinaldo to accept this offer. At the time it was not a consequential decision,” he said.
Lord Mandelson rejected the suggestion this left him open to bribery claims, with Epstein lobbying him to change banker bonus rules.
“There was non-stop discussion from the entire industry about reforming the banks and how to strike the right balance in regulation,” Lord Mandelson said.
“The idea that giving Reinaldo an osteopath bursary is going to sway mine or anyone else’s views about banking policy is risible.”
The peer insisted he had “absolutely no recollection” of receiving payments totalling 75,000 US dollars (around £55,000) from Epstein between 2003 and 2004 as bank details in the files release by the US Department of Justice indicated.
Watch: Royal expert warns there's 'more to come' in Epstein files and 'it can only get worse'
Tuesday 3 February 2026 11:45 , Tara CobhamMandelson 'asked Epstein for help with a car in Boston', files suggest
Tuesday 3 February 2026 11:30 , Tara CobhamSenior reporter Alex Ross reports:
As Lord Mandelson faces ever-increasing scrutiny over his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, more is still emerging from the files released by the US Department of Justice on Friday.
One email has surfaced suggesting the peer asked Epstein's team for assistance in finding a car during a visit to Boston in 2012 – and he refused it.
It was four years after Epstein had served 13 months of an 18-month sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor, for which he was registered as a sex offender.
In the email to Epstein from his assistant, Lesley Groff, dated 29 May 2012, she says: "Peter Mandelson is asking that I help him with a car service in Boston. I can book him the car with the company we always use.... Did you want to pay for the car?"
Epstein replied eight minutes later: "No."
It is not clear why Lord Mandelson wanted help with a car in Boston, in Massachusetts. Two days after the email, the annual Bilderberg conference in Chantilly in Virginia started, at which the peer reportedly attended.
The event, a gathering of global business leaders and politicians, ran from 31 May to 3 June 2012.
Lib Dems call for national inquiry into Epstein’s influence at 'heart of British political establishment'
Tuesday 3 February 2026 11:15 , Tara CobhamPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The Liberal Democrats have called for a statutory public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein and his influence at the “heart of the British political establishment",
It comes after the Epstein files suggested that Lord Peter Mandelson leaked market-sensitive information from the heart of government, and also suggest that Epstein had ties with Putin and Russia.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The victims of this scandal and their families deserve the full truth and to see those responsible held to account.
“The government should launch a full statutory inquiry into how a convicted paedophile with suspected ties to Vladimir Putin was able to gain access to the heart of the British political establishment.
“Epstein was leaked highly market-sensitive information by a minister acting as a mole in Whitehall, leaving our institutions dangerously exposed and posing a grave threat to national security.
“A full public inquiry with powers to compel witnesses and access messages and emails is essential. Only complete transparency can restore public trust, deliver justice for victims and prevent this level of corruption from ever happening again.”
Labour unwilling to reveal details on Mandelson investigation
Tuesday 3 February 2026 11:00 , Tara CobhamPolitical editor David Maddox reports:
There have been a noticeable lack of details regarding some key aspects of what happened with Lord Mandelson.
Labour have not been willing to say when a disciplinary investigation was started with the peer regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Nor do we know precisely who asked for it or what it specifically was on.
There is a suspicion in parliament that it was hastily begun to make it look as though the prime minister was taking much delayed action.
'Praying for hung parliament or well-hung young man,' Mandelson says in email to Epstein
Tuesday 3 February 2026 10:45 , Tara CobhamIt has emerged that Peter Mandelson said to Jeffrey Epstein in an email sent on election day in 2010: “We are praying for a hung parliament. Alternatively, a well-hung young man.”
At the time, Lord Mandelson was business secretary, and he had been heavily involved in running the Labour Party’s 2010 general election campaign.
Mandelson says he has been 'amazed' by some of his previous conversations with Epstein
Tuesday 3 February 2026 10:30 , Tara CobhamLord Mandelson has said he has been “amazed” by some of the conversations he had with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking about whether or not he told No 10 everything about his relationship with the disgraced billionaire, the peer told The Times: “Downing Street did not know what I had long since forgotten. It was a distant chapter from which I have very little recall and have no access at all to records or a diary.
“I understand being surprised by what they learnt, but quite honestly I too am amazed by some of the conversations I had and areas of my life where I was seeking advice from Epstein.”
He added: “It has been a life-changing crisis. I’m not pretending otherwise. But you have to set about getting your life back into shape and that’s what I’m doing.”
Then-business secretary Mandelson appears to have told Epstein about EU bailout pre-announcement
Tuesday 3 February 2026 10:15 , Tara CobhamThe newly released documents indicate Jeffrey Epstein was sent details of internal discussions from the heart of the UK government after the global financial crisis.
Lord Mandelson, the then-business secretary, appeared to tell Epstein he would lobby ministers over a tax on bankers’ bonuses in 2009, and to confirm an imminent bailout package for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010.
Bank statements from 2003 and 2004 appeared to show he received payments totalling 75,000 US dollars from the financier, and Epstein is also said to have paid for an osteopathy course for Lord Mandelson’s husband.
Mandelson does not recognise how serious allegations against him are, minister suggests
Tuesday 3 February 2026 09:45 , Tara CobhamPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Peter Mandelson does not recognise how serious the allegations against him are, a government minister has suggested, hitting out at his decision to do a sit down interview with The Times.
In an interview that was published last night – but was partly conducted last week before the latest tranche of files was released – Lord Mandelson said "it felt like being killed without actually dying" when he was sacked as US ambassador.
Asked about the interview, health minister Karin Smyth told Sky News: "I've certainly seen... men that have been involved in similar sorts of behaviour. They seem to not be able to recognise their own self in that, and that is part of them having to deal with the level of seriousness and seeing how other people seriously see it.
"And people shouldn't put that out in a public domain, having those interviews. It is a time for reflection and to recognise how serious this is."
Asked whether she thinks Lord Mandelson recognises how serious the allegations against him are, she said: "I think by the sound of that interview, that would suggest not."
Baroness Harman believed Mandelson to be untrustworthy since 1990s
Tuesday 3 February 2026 07:51 , Tara CobhamBaroness Harman said she has believed Lord Mandelson to be untrustworthy since the 1990s, but “could never have believed” he would leak information while a cabinet minister.
She said: “I was of the view that Peter Mandelson was untrustworthy from the 1990s, but he was appointed by Tony Blair, he was appointed by Gordon Brown, and appointed again by Sir Keir Starmer.
“But even I, who had a view that he was untrustworthy, I could never have believed that, Gordon Brown having appointed him to the cabinet, that he would sit in that cabinet and leak information whilst the government was struggling to protect the country from the global financial crisis.
“Even I have been shocked at the degree of his wrongdoing.”
