Lord Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The former Labour minister and US ambassador has been accused of passing on sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was business secretary, with two of his properties searched by police.
Mandelson was seen leaving his home in Camden, north London, with police officers on Monday afternoon.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
"He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview.”
Lord Mandelson has previously denied any wrongdoing and said he regrets his friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein.
Scroll down for the latest updates.
Coverage ends
21:33 , Tom PlaceThat ends our coverage of the arrest today of former Labour minister Peter Mandelson.
He remains in police custody at this time.
Please check back at standard.co.uk tomorrow for the latest developments.
What we know so far
21:26 , Tom PlaceHere is what we know so far, following the dramatic arrest of Peter Mandelson earlier today.
- Peter Mandelson was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with officers entering his home and escorting him from his property and into a car.
- The Met confirmed that a 72-year-old man had been arrested and taken to a London police station for questioning.
- Specific details of the alleged offence for which Mandelson has been arrested have not been confirmed.
- Police have been investigating into allegations Mandelson passed sensitive information onto disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary under Gordon Brown's government.
- A criminal investigation was launched earlier this month by the Met, with officers searching Mandelson's homes in Wiltshire and north London.
Mandelson files should not be delayed - Saville Roberts
21:04 , Tom PlaceEarlier today, Senior minister Darren Jones announced that the first tranche of documents relating to Peter Mandelson will be released in "early March".
Liz Saville Roberts, The Westminster leader of Plaid Cymru, has warned the government not to use his arrest as an excuse to delay releasing the files.
Speaking to Sky, Saville Roberts said: "I would be very concerned now if the government use this as a reason not to bring (the files) forward, because, frankly, the purpose of scrutiny in those papers is to find out why he was appointed as US ambassador.
"We need to know what the prime minister and his advisers knew when they appointed Peter Mandelson, which is not the same thing as misconduct in public office.”
'Quite a moment' - Shaw
20:40 , Tom PlacePolicing and crime commentator Danny Shaw has said we are in “extraordinary moments” after Peter Mandelson’s arrest today.
Talking to Sky, Shaw said: “There'll be a lot of documents to go through when police question Peter Mandelson, they will hear presumably his side of the story, he will give an account, he will have a lawyer present I'm sure.
“Police will then have to go away and assess what he's told them, together with the other information they've got, before deciding what to do next.”
He added: “For a former cabinet minister to be led off under arrest and to be booked into a police station, that's quite a moment.”
Denyer: Mandelson arrest 'absolutely right'
19:38 , Tom PlaceFormer Green party leader Carla Denyer has said it is “absolutely right” that Peter Mandelson was arrested today.
About time. Absolutely right that Mandelson is arrested for questioning. We owe so much to the bravery of the women who fought to get the Epstein files released.
— Carla Denyer (@carla_denyer) February 23, 2026
We must have full accountability from Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor https://t.co/AGj8AnFMhE
Badenoch: Mandelson arrest a 'defining moment' for Starmer
19:27 , Tom PlaceKemi Badenoch has said that Peter Mandelson's arrest is "the defining moment of Keir Starmer's premiership".
The Conservative leader said: "Watching the man who he appointed to the highest position in our diplomatic service getting arrested by police is an image which I think is going to stay with us for many, many years to come".
She added: "I asked him if he had full confidence in Peter Mandelson, just a few months ago, and he said yes, despite all of these allegations being known, only to see the man arrested shows that the prime minister has terrible judgement.
"He's weak. He has not released the information around the files, though he sacks the person who is supposed to be overseeing the release.
"I think that shows what kind of person the prime minister is.”
Stride: Starmer showed a 'lack of judgement'
19:18 , Tom PlaceShadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride has said that Keir Starmer showed a "lack of judgement" in appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK's US ambassador.
Speaking to Sky, Stride said: "I think it speaks to a lack of judgement on the part of the prime minister.
"Part of the process now, of getting to the bottom of exactly what happened will also be: what happened around his appointment, what information was known at what time and by whom, and were the right decisions justifiable decisions taken in that context?
Lord Mandelson has previously denied any wrongdoing.
Mandelson's arrest a 'disaster' for the government
19:08 , Tom PlacePeter Mandelson's arrest is “actually a big disaster” for the government, a leading security expert has said.
Reacting to the news, Professor Anthony Glees added on GB News: “In the case of Lord Mandelson, he still is Lord, it's a question of the damage that he could have done to the British state, but also the damage that he did to the Labour Party and the Labour government.
“And it's not just this 20 year stretch of highly influential activities in which Lord Mandelson was engaged on, it is also a question of the obvious failure to vet him properly before Sir Keir Starmer made him British ambassador in Washington.
“So now that he has been arrested on the basis of allegations, the police and the Security Service, I should have thought, possibly even the Secret Intelligence Service, whose job it is to gain information about what happens overseas, will all be involved in building up a rich picture, a very rich picture."
Mandelson on Epstein
19:03 , Tom PlaceIn an interview with The Times earlier this month, Peter Mandelson called Jeffrey Epstein a “master manipulator”, while likening the convicted paedophile to "dog muck that you can’t get off your shoe" and the “bubonic plague”.
Mandelson said he was too trusting of a man that he could now see was a calculating predator.
Mandelson said: “I had no exposure to the criminal aspects of his life. For so many years the voices of his victims were not heard and now Congress has rightly opened everything up.”
He added: “I've had a lot of bad luck, no doubt some of it of my own making.”
Regarding alleged payments totalling $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson in 2003 and 2004, he insisted he had “absolutely no recollection or records of receiving his money and I think I would remember such a large sum.”
Central specialist crime division performed arrest
18:50 , Tom PlaceIt has been reported that Mandelson's arrest was carried out by officers from the Met's central specialist crime division.
While Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was not involved in the decision to arrest Mandelson, consultations between the police and the CPS about the case are believed to be ongoing.
Misconduct in Public Office
18:45 , Tom PlaceMisconduct in a public office is an offense concerning “serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held”, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
There must be a direct link between the misconduct and an abuse of those powers or responsibilities without reasonable excuse or justification.
The CPS website states there is no simple definition of a "public office", meaning each case must be assessed individually, taking into account the nature of the role, the duties carried out, and the level of public trust involved.
In emails released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), Mandelson appeared to forward information to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary under former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Mandelson's arrest - the first pictures
18:35 , Tom PlaceHere are the first images of Peter Mandelson being arrested this afternoon.
He was led away from his home in Camden this afternoon by plain clothes police officers and put in the back of an unmarked car.
The moment was captured in broadcast footage, including by the BBC.
Searches at Mandelson's properties
18:13 , Tom PlacePeter Mandelson’s arrest comes after searches by the Met Police searches at his properties in Wiltshire and London earlier in February.
It is believed that Mandelson was at home in north London that search was carried out.
Mandelson has been investigated since February 3 over allegations he passed sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein.
It has not yet been confirmed the specific offence for which he has been arrested.
Files related to Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador to be released
18:03 , Matt WattsMPs were told on Monday the first tranche of files related to Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to Washington will be published in early March.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told the Commons that officials have been checking through the information related to the former minister being offered the job.
Mr Jones said the government will release documents in stages as and when they are ready, rather than at the end of the process.
It is not yet known whether Mandelson's arrest will delay the publications.
The publication comes amid pressure on Keir Starmer over his judgment in appointing Mandelson despite his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein being known.
The Government has said the extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship was not known at the time.
Government minister says police 'will do what they need to do'
17:56 , Matt WattsGovernment minister Jacqui Smith said "the police will do what they need to do" following Mandelson’s arrest.
Speaking to Times Radio, Ms Smith, Minister of State at Department for Education and Department of Work and Pensions and Minister for Women and Equality said: “The police will do what they need to do and will pursue the investigation as they see fit and I think that's the most important thing for people like me to say at this moment in time.”
What is Peter Mandelson accused of?
17:53 , Matt WattsPolice say they have arrested Lord Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
They have not detailed the specifics of what he is accused of.
But an investigation was launched by the police into Mandelson after emails allegedly exchanged between the former US ambassador and Jeffrey Epstein emerged in the tranche of Epstein files released by the US State Department on January 30.
He has been accused of passing sensitive information onto the paedophile financier during his time as business secretary.
Police statement in full
17:43 , Matt WattsHere is the statement in full from the Metropolitan Police following the arrest of Peter Mandelson at his home in Camden, north London.
In a staetment released at 5.05pm, the Met said: "Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
"He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview.
"This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
They did not name Lord Mandelson, as is normal practice for the police when they make arrests.
Who is Peter Mandelson?
17:39 , Matt WattsPeter Mandelson played a key role in the New Labour movement and Sir Tony Blair's landslide election victory in 1997.
He began working for Labour in the 1980s and became a major figure in the party for decades.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed him as the UK’s ambassador to Washington in December 2024.
It was known prior to that appointment that he had a friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer was sacked from the role last September after Downing Street said new information about the depth of this relationship emerged.
He stepped down from the House of Lords after the release of Epstein-related documents in the US raised new questions about his dealing with Epstein.
However due to parliamentary procedure he retains his title.
Footage shows Mandelson being led away by police
17:28 , Matt WattsFootage shown by broadcasters shows a plain clothed police officer leading Lord Mandelson out of a house.
Lord Mandelson then gets into the left rear seat of a waiting unmarked Ford Focus police car.
The male police officer then gets into the right rear passenger seat.
A female police officer gets into the front seat of the car before it is driven away.
Peter Mandelson arrested
17:25 , Matt WattsLord Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The Metropolitan Police said the 72-year-old was taken to a London police station for interview on Monday.
The former Labour minister has been accused of passing sensitive information onto paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary.
Two of his properties were previously searched by police in connection with the allegations, which surfaced following the US Department of Justice's document dump related to Epstein last month.
