Starmer to release sensitive Mandelson files after pressure

The UK government has agreed to release sensitive documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, after a backlash from Labour MPs over plans to withhold those files.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was under pressure to disclose the papers, after police launched a criminal investigation into claims Lord Mandelson passed sensitive government information to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In a last-minute concession, the sensitive documents will now be referred to a committee of MPs.

Lord Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment, but the BBC understands his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.

Sir Keir had agreed to a Tory demand to release some papers about the process to hire Lord Mandelson and the "due diligence" conducted by No 10 beforehand.

Initially, the prime minister said the disclosure of files would exclude material that could damage national security or UK diplomatic relations.

Sir Keir's proposal was an amendment to a Tory motion currently being debated by MPs in the House of Commons, that calls for "all papers relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment" as US ambassador to be released.

MPs are due to vote on that motion and the prime minister's amendment on Wednesday evening.

But ahead of the vote, the government said these sensitive documents would instead be referred to Parliament's nine-member Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).

It comes after a number of Labour MPs - including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner - expressed concerns about the government's plan to withhold some of the information.

In the House of Commons, Rayner and several other Labour MPs publicly urged the government to allow the ISC to review the documents before public disclosure.

The extent of the anger among Labour MPs appears to have taken the government by surprise and and bounced ministers into giving the ISC a role in the process.

Clive Efford, an experienced Labour MP, warned there was "clearly concern about the government amendment and that it doesn't go far enough in terms of scrutiny of those documents that might be withheld".

Some Labour MPs, including Matt Bishop, said they would not vote with the government unless its changed its position on the Mandelson files.

Bishop said: "Given the strength of feeling among victim and survivor groups, and frankly given my own conscience, I cannot in good faith support a position that risks further eroding trust in our commitment to justice."

The debate on the Tory motion is due to go on until about 19:00.

Sir Keir is facing increasing pressure over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson to the Washington role, before firing him seven months later after an earlier release of emails showed the peer had sent supportive messages to Epstein as he faced jail in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir said the former minister's continued friendship with the late financier after his conviction had been flagged during the vetting process prior to his appointment.

But he added that Lord Mandelson had "lied repeatedly to my team" about the depth of his relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 awaiting trail on sex trafficking charges.

"If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government," Sir Keir added.

The Conservative motion is a bid to maximise embarrassment for Labour, which would also force the release of a much wider range of material, including any emails and text messages sent by Lord Mandelson to ministers in the six months before getting the role.

It would also force the disclosure of messages between the peer and Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's chief of staff, whom the Conservatives say has "serious questions to answer" over Lord Mandelson's appointment.

At PMQs, Sir Keir said the review process would be led by Sir Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary, assisted by government lawyers.

Downing Street is also in contact with the police to ensure that "anything that would prejudice their investigations" is not released, he added.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of trying to "sabotage" the disclosure process and "choose what we see".

Replying to Sir Keir, she added: "This is not about national security, this is about his job security."

Lord Mandelson faces an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office, after claims he sent market-sensitive government information to Epstein whilst a cabinet minister in Gordon Brown's New Labour government.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice on Friday suggest Mandelson forwarded Epstein an internal Downing Street memo in 2009 discussing possible government asset sales.

Other emails published in the tranche of documents appear to show he gave Epstein advance notice of a €500bn bailout by the EU to save the Euro in 2010.

Other emails suggest Epstein made $75,000 in payments to Lord Mandelson in three separate $25,000 transactions in 2003 and 2004. Lord Mandelson has said he has no record or recollection of the payments.

Lord Mandelson has apologised for continuing the friendship with Epstein after the financier's conviction in 2008, adding he believed "lies he told me and so many others".

The peer, who gave up his Labour Party membership over the weekend, has also retired from the House of Lords.

The government is drafting legislation required to formally remove his title, whilst Sir Keir also confirmed steps would be taken to remove his lifetime membership of the Privy Council, which he holds as a former minister.