No 'risk' in Mandelson-Welsh government dealings, probe concludes

An inquiry into dealings between Lord Mandelson and the Welsh government has concluded it found nothing which "represented a risk to the conduct" of government business.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth called for the probe after Lord Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK's ambassador to the US, faced an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office.

It is alleged that Lord Mandelson, while he was a UK Labour minister, passed market-sensitive UK government information to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Lord Mandelson has repeatedly let it be known that he believes he has not acted criminally, did not act for personal gain and is co-operating with the police.

Plaid Cymru welcomed the release of the report.

Ap Iorwerth demanded the Welsh government investigation early last month, asking whether the alleged sharing of UK government information by Lord Mandelson with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein "had in any way undermined the Welsh national interest".

Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan launched the investigation, which was carried out by the Welsh government's most senior official - Permanent Secretary Andrew Goodall.

The investigation report says it has looked at all internal and external correspondence and also examined the published Epstein files.

It concludes: "There was nothing which represented a risk to the conduct of Welsh government business."

The investigation included going through the Epstein files on the US Department of Justice "Epstein Library" website, using search terms "in relation to the Welsh government and the Senedd".

On this search, the report says the only item found was an "ephemeral exchange of messages on 23 July 2009" in which Mandelson said "Travelling back to London from Cardiff. Urgent? Or call u on return".

Epstein responded: "Call me when you get a chance."

This exchange occurred during a visit to Cardiff by Mandelson in his role as business secretary for a meeting of the UK cabinet and announcement by the then prime minister Gordon Brown of the electrification of the railway line between London and Cardiff.

The investigation also looked at contact between the Welsh government and Lord Mandelson when he was ambassador to the US last year.

The report identifies a virtual "introductory meeting" between First minister Eluned Morgan and Mandelson shortly after his appointment to Washington DC.

It notes: "No written information about the Welsh government's relationship and priorities was shared with the UK government or Peter Mandelson."

The investigation also looked at whether the Welsh government had any dealings with Global Counsel - the lobbying firm co-founded by Mandelson - which has now gone into administration.

The report says: "We have found no record of the Welsh government making any payments to Global Counsel or having any contacts with the company".

In the report's conclusion it says "the first minister needs to be aware that we cannot guarantee that we have found every communication with Mr Mandelson which might exist, or did exist, on Welsh government records".

"Some of our earliest records have been destroyed and it may be the case that other relevant material is held on files which have not been thrown up by our search terms," the report says.

It says the inquiry found only "a very limited number of relevant items or occasions" where Mandelson was mentioned or was the subject matter.

"The items which we have found are either not significant or reflect the normal course of business, and are unexceptional," says the report.

"We have not found anything which, in our view, represented a risk to the conduct of Welsh government business during the periods of Peter Mandelson's official UK government roles."

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "Rhun ap Iorwerth requested this investigation because ensuring transparency within government is essential to foster a relationship of trust between people and their government.

"We welcome the release of this information.

The spokesperson added "Keir Starmer showed a profound lapse in leadership at the highest level of government by appointing Peter Mandelson despite his close relationship to Jeffrey Epstein".

The BBC understands that Lord Mandelson's position is that he has not acted in any way criminally, he was not motivated by financial gain and he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein in the UK government's vetting process accurately.