Starmer orders release of files relating to Mandelson US ambassador decision
Keir Starmer will attempt to get ahead of the widening scandal over Peter Mandelson’s conduct with the expected release of files relating to his appointment as Britain’s US ambassador, in what a minister has described as “drawing a line in the sand”,The Conservatives had been preparing to force the publication of the records – including what Mandelson may have told Starmer about his relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before being appointed to Washington – with a motion in the Commons,Rather than face a difficult vote amid anger among his own MPs, the prime minister has ordered the publication of those records – emails, documents and messages – apart from those deemed prejudicial to national security or that could damage diplomatic relations,It is understood the government’s intention is to be transparent while avoiding a situation where all the communications get published,A government amendment to the Conservatives’ motion that would compel the release of the documents is expected to pass.
The Guardian understands that officials are working through the material but that it is unlikely to be ready to be published on Wednesday.The documents identified for release will need to be assessed to check whether they will first need to be seen by the police.Scotland Yard has formally launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market sensitive information to Epstein.Documents from the Epstein files released in the US appeared to show the then business secretary sent confidential details of internal discussions to the disgraced financier in the aftermath of the financial crash.Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said on Wednesday that the prime minister was going for “maximum transparency” and would be “drawing a line in the sand”.
It was clear from the US Department of Justice’s latest release that Mandelson had not told “the whole truth”, said Streeting, adding that the prime minister’s “worst fears” had been confirmed,Streeting spoke in a series of morning interviews about his own “deep sense of betrayal” over the revelations about Mandelson, who had backed him as a rising MP,Asked about the deletion of photos from his social media feed that showed him with Mandelson in the past, he said he had done so because others including his mother and Labour volunteers had featured in them,He told Times Radio: “I cannot state strongly enough how bitterly that betrayal feels for those of us in the Labour party who feel very personally let down and also feel that he, as well as betraying two prime ministers, betraying our country and betraying Epstein’s victims, has fundamentally betrayed our values and the things that motivate us and the things that brought us into politics, which is public service and national interest, not self-service and self-interest,”Asked about new claims by the prime minister of Poland that Epstein may have been a Russian spy, Streeting told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he was not in a position to comment on that, but added: “I do think we need to look seriously at Epstein’s connections and in whose interests he was acting.
”Streeting, cast in recent months as a rival to the Labour leader, found himself in the position of having to defend repeatedly the prime minister’s judgment in appointing Mandelson to Washington, as the scandal threatens to engulf Starmer and his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.Asked about Starmer’s judgment, Streeting said: “We took a view and take a view generally that we don’t make people guilty by association but assurances in the vetting process were sought and the prime minister was not told the whole truth about it.”The government is unlikely to stave off difficult scenes in parliament with the Conservatives seeking to pile further pressure on Starmer and his inner circle.Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative party chair, said the government should not seek to use exemptions, such as over national security, in relation to the release of files about the Mandelson appointment.He told Today: “We will probably learn a lot about Sir Keir Starmer’s judgment, but we are yet to see what these documents will reveal.
The reality is Keir Starmer knew he was appointing one of the dodgiest people in politics to the role of ambassador to the US – one of the best jobs in politics.He knew of his background and he knew of his relationship with Epstein and he still pushed ahead and appointed him.”
PM says he knew when giving Mandelson US job he had kept ties with Epstein after conviction
Keir Starmer has confirmed for the first time he knew about Peter Mandelson’s longer-term relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him US ambassador, saying the former peer had “lied repeatedly” about the extent of his contact with the child sex offender.Questioned repeatedly at prime minister’s questions, Starmer said Mandelson had “betrayed our country” in his dealings with Epstein.“He lied repeatedly to my team, when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador,” the prime minister said. “I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never been anywhere near government
Starmer orders release of files relating to Mandelson US ambassador decision
Keir Starmer will attempt to get ahead of the widening scandal over Peter Mandelson’s conduct with the expected release of files relating to his appointment as Britain’s US ambassador, in what a minister has described as “drawing a line in the sand”.The Conservatives had been preparing to force the publication of the records – including what Mandelson may have told Starmer about his relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before being appointed to Washington – with a motion in the Commons.Rather than face a difficult vote amid anger among his own MPs, the prime minister has ordered the publication of those records – emails, documents and messages – apart from those deemed prejudicial to national security or that could damage diplomatic relations.It is understood the government’s intention is to be transparent while avoiding a situation where all the communications get published.A government amendment to the Conservatives’ motion that would compel the release of the documents is expected to pass
A whiff of familiarity in Mandelson’s 2009 collusion with the banks
Today’s advocates of a windfall tax on the UK’s highly profitable banking sector detected a whiff of familiarity in Peter Mandelson’s suggestion, back in 2009, that JP Morgan should “mildly threaten” the chancellor.Feeding a Wall Street financier market sensitive titbits was an extraordinary breach of trust – perhaps even illegal, it seems – but for Labour veterans of the financial crisis, Mandelson’s collusion with the banks against his own colleagues was the worst betrayal.The then business secretary told Jeffrey Epstein by email that he was “trying hard” to change government policy on a bankers’ bonus tax; and appeared to recommend a fresh round of lobbying, suggesting the JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon press the then chancellor, Alistair Darling.The economic backdrop today is dramatically different from the depths of the banking crisis. But the clash between progressive policies and the powerful financial sector laid bare in the Epstein emails is still evident – and as in the case of Dimon, even some of the characters are the same
Tories seek disclosure of vetting process for Mandelson’s ambassador role
Keir Starmer could be forced to disclose confidential vetting documents from Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, with the Tories set to trigger a rare Commons vote to compel their release.Labour MPs have indicated they are not prepared to oppose the Conservative motion – known as a humble address – that would disclose the details of the vetting process and what if anything was known about Mandelson’s links to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.Kemi Badenoch plans to use the arcane parliamentary procedure on Wednesday to force the release of files relating to the appointment of Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US.In a dramatic move that will put pressure on Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, Badenoch said she would use the procedure to uncover “why the proper vetting never happened”.Badenoch is expected to say that Labour MPs have a choice to “support our efforts to reveal the truth about how and why Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador to Washington despite his known links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein” or to help Starmer and McSweeney “dodge scrutiny over this sordid affair”
Met police launch investigation into alleged Mandelson-Epstein email leaks – as it happened
A criminal investigation has been launched into allegations Peter Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, police said on Tuesday evening.Commander Ella Marriott, from the Metropolitan Police, said: “Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK Government.“I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.“The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time.”Mandelson has previously said: “I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction [in 2008 for procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute] and to continue my association with him afterwards
What does the criminal investigation mean for Peter Mandelson?
The Met police have launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson after fresh disclosures from the Jeffrey Epstein files. Which laws could he potentially be accused of breaking and on what basis?The Met has said it received a number of reports relating to possible misconduct in public office. The Scottish National party and Reform UK reported Mandelson to the police to investigate any possible offences. Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, also said she believed his apparent actions should merit a criminal inquiry.The Met confirmed on Tuesday night that it had “launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences”
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