Met police arrest former British ambassador to US Peter Mandelson – as it happened

Peter Mandelson outside his home in north-west London Photograph: James Manning/PA

7.29pm GMT

Closing summary

This blog is now closing. Thank you for following along, here are the top stories from today:

• Peter Mandelson has been arrested by detectives investigating claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

• Bridget Phillipson has presented sweeping plans to overhaul special educational needs provision in England, with a package of measures designed to make the system less reliant on cash-strapped councils and give schools greater responsibility.

• Keir Starmer has opened a formal investigation into a Cabinet Office minister involved in falsely accusing journalists of having links to pro-Russian propaganda.

• Reform UK’s plan to create an ICE-style deportation agency has been condemned as “sadistic”, after the party’s home affairs spokesperson vowed to face down “progressive outrage”.

For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.

Updated at 7.29pm GMT

6.30pm GMT

Former Green party co-leader, Carla Denyer, has said it is “absolutely right” that Peter Mandleson was arrested for questioning.

In a post on X, she said: “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. We must have full accountability from Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor.”

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.

We must have full accountability from Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor https://t.co/AGj8AnFMhE

— Carla Denyer (@carla_denyer) February 23, 2026

Updated at 6.31pm GMT