The British government is about to release the first batch of key documents related to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, MPs were told on Monday.
The unveiling, scheduled for “early March”, follows a House of Commons motion ordering the release of files related to Mandelson’s vetting for the post and comes in the wake of his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
“The government expects to be able to publish the first set of documents very soon, in early March,” Darren Jones, principal secretary to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, told the House of Commons.
“I must, however, inform the House that it remains the case that a subset of this first tranche of documents is currently the subject of the Metropolitan Police’s ongoing investigation,” he said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, talks with British Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence in Washington, February 26, 2025. (Carl Court/Pool photo via AP)
Jones added that “a small portion of that material relates to issues of national security or international relations” and would be dealt with through the Intelligence and Security Committee, in accordance with the will of the House.
The arrest follows revelations about Mandelson’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and comes days after the former Prince Andrew was arrested.
The investigation concerns allegations that Mandelson shared confidential government information with Epstein while he served as business secretary.
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Former British Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson enters a vehicle outside a reported home after police launched an investigation into misconduct in public office. (Reuters)
Police had opened a criminal investigation after the government reported communications between the former ambassador and the disgraced financier.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice also revealed that Mandelson shared market-sensitive information with Epstein during the 2008 financial crisis.
Mandelson has denied wrongdoing, saying he does not remember the alleged revelations and apologized to Epstein’s victims for keeping in touch with him after his conviction.
On February 4, Starmer told the House of Commons: “I am as angry as anyone about what Mandelson has been up to. The revelations… are utterly shocking and disgusting. He has betrayed our country. He has lied repeatedly. He is responsible for a litany of deceit.”
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Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in federal custody in 2019. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, file)
Starmer later said that if he had known then what he knows now, Mandelson ‘would never have been anywhere near the government’.
Mandelson, an architect of New Labor, was appointed US ambassador before being fired in September 2025 as scrutiny of his ties to Epstein intensified.
He resigned from the Labor Party and resigned from the House of Lords.
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As US ambassador, Mandelson scored an early victory by ensuring Britain was the first country to agree to a deal with the US to cut some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but he was fired a few months later.
Starmer has also faced calls to resign over Mandelson’s appointment. Reuters reported.
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