Angry British MPs force government climbdown over Mandelson-Epstein files

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - LONDON — British lawmakers have approved the release of documents about Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, after furious Labour backbenchers forced a government climbdown over plans to withhold some material.

Members of the Intelligence and Security Committee will decide what documents will be released after the government yielded to cross-party pressure and agreed that anything prejudicial will now go before the committee.

The prime minister tabled a manuscript amendment, which would allow the the Intelligence and Security Committee to have sight of documents that could include information about Mandelson’s relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, alongside vetting material.

Starmer's amendment faced backlash from his own backbenches, including his former deputy Angela Rayner, who agreed with the Conservative argument that all papers should be released to the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Starmer told a dramatic Commons session he wanted to release the files, which could show what the government knew about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, but insisted he would not publish anything that could damage national security or diplomatic relations.

The prime minister has been under pressure to disclose the files after police launched a criminal investigation into claims Mandelson passed sensitive government information to Epstein.

Mandelson was sacked as ambassador last year after new revelations about his friendship with Epstein came to light.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice appear to confirm Mandelson's friendship with Epstein continued, and even flourished, after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Starmer told the Commons he was misled about the "sheer depth and extent" of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein.

"He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him," he said.

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

The prime minster added he was aware of the former business secretary's ongoing friendship with Epstein, a convicted paedophile who died in 2019, when he appointed him last year, adding fuel to the already simmering fury on the Labour backbenches.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of trying to "sabotage" the disclosure process, adding: "This is not about national security, this is about his job security."

Later, a dramatic debate in the Commons ended with MPs backing proposals to release the Mandelson documents without a vote.

Starmer had agreed to a Conservative demand to release some papers about Mandelson's appointment and the "due diligence" conducted by No. 10 beforehand.

Related Article

India's regulator begins investigation after planes scrape wings at Mumbai airport 

But some MPs were furious that some documents might be withheld on national security grounds, with some accusing the government of a cover up.

In a last-minute concession toward the end of the debate, after Rayner and several other Labour MPs intervened, the government agreed that sensitive documents would be referred to Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC).

That it was Rayner who led the opposition demonstrated the power the former deputy prime minister has on the party's backbenches, and reminded Downing Street she is willing to wield it.

Cabinet Office minister Chris Ward said the government wanted to publish documents about the decision to hire Mandelson as quickly as possible, without setting out a specific timeline, adding that the cabinet secretary would lead the process.

But he said there would have to be discussions with the Metropolitan Police about what material could be released publicly at this stage.

In a statement released while MPs were debating the Mandelson documents in Parliament, the police force said it had told the government not to release "certain documents" that could undermine its investigation.

The prime minister's public admission that he knew Mandelson had continued his relationship with Epstein after his conviction for child sex offences, long implied but now confirmed, crystallized anger among Labour MPs.

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.

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 Mandelson in three separate $25,000 transactions in 2003 and 2004. Mandelson has said he has no record or recollection of the payments.

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

Mandelson, 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, while Starmer also confirmed steps would be taken to remove his lifetime membership of the Privy Council, which he holds as a former minister. — Agencies