Government could be forced to release 100,000 Mandelson documents

The total number of government documents related to the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US could be close to 100,000, the BBC has been told.

MPs have forced the government to release the documents after police launched a criminal investigation into claims Lord Mandelson passed sensitive information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The government has started gathering the files, which could include potentially embarrassing private messages between Lord Mandelson and ministers, officials and special advisers.

But the government has not indicated when it plans to publish any of the material - or whether it will be released in batches or all in one go.

Sir Keir has claimed the documents will show Lord Mandelson lied to him about the extent of his friendship with Epstein, which continued after he had been convicted in 2008.

The PM's official spokesman said it was "important that documents are made available to Parliament as soon as possible".

But he said the collation process was in the "early stages" and involved working with the Metropolitan Police, which told the government not to release "certain documents" that could undermine its criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson.

The BBC understands Lord Mandelson's view is that he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein in the vetting process accurately.

The prime minister sacked Lord Mandelson last year when new information came to light - but thousands of emails released by the US government a week ago have reignited the scandal.

On Thursday, Sir Keir sought to defuse the row by apologising to Epstein's victims for believing Mandelson's "lies".

But Labour MPs are openly questioning his judgement in appointing him when the peer's friendship with the paedophile was already public knowledge.

Some have gone public with calls for him to stand down.

Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson told BBC Radio Merseyside Sir Keir had handled the situation "appallingly" and he should "consider resigning".

"As a party we have catapulted from one crisis to another since July 2024," she said. "At the end of the day, responsibility ends with the head of the government."

Neil Duncan Jordan, MP for Poole, in Dorset, said: "We can't just keep going on like this - lurching from one crisis to the next."

The best option is to have a "renewal of the Labour Party" to restart its "offer to the British public", he added.

Labour MP Brian Leishman told the BBC Sir Keir had "shown an incredible misjudgement in appointing Peter Mandelson and it goes beyond saying sorry".

"Has his judgment been good enough for that office? I think the answer is a categorical no," he added.

Labour backbencher Simon Opher said Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who was close to Lord Mandelson, should go over the scandal.

Opher said the prime minister "needs to change his advisers in Number 10", adding that politicians "really rely on people to cover our backs, our advisers, and they patently haven't done that".

Ministers have rallied behind the PM, but his position remains perilous.

The documents to be released cover all electronic communications, which could include WhatsApp messages and emails.

No 10's former communications director warned the disclosure of private messages could drag more public figures into the scandal.

"I don't think anyone can understate the gravity of the situation," James Lyons told BBC Newsnight.

He said Wednesday's approval of the release of documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment meant "we could just be in the foothills here".

"We've seen with the Covid inquiry how a huge amount of stuff can be thrown up through that.

"I think this is at least the biggest scandal since the expenses scandal of 2009."

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