Lord Peter Mandelson arrested by Metropolitan Police in relation to Jeffrey Epstein investigation
British police arrested former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson on suspicion of abuse of public office over his connection to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, just days after detaining Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on similar grounds.
A Labor Party insider who rose to the House of Lords after decades of holding senior positions in public life was arrested at his home in London and taken away for questioning by the police.
Police confirmed they had begun searching his London home in Camden, north of the city, as well as his rural property in Wiltshire.
The arrest continues a sharp decline for Lord Mandelson, who was a key figure in Tony Blair’s rise to prime minister in 1997 and was a cabinet minister under Blair and his successor as prime minister Gordon Brown. He also served as European Union trade commissioner.
Although Mandelson’s ties to Epstein have been known for years, this did not stop UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer from appointing him as ambassador to the United States in December 2024, a decision seen as a way of smoothing relations with US President Donald Trump.
But files released by the US Department of Justice last year revealed more details about Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein; These included a message from a Labor insider heaping praise on the disgraced financier in a “birthday book” containing personal notes from teenage girls and colleagues.
Although this led to Starmer removing Mandelson from his ambassadorship at the end of last year, the damage continued when the Ministry of Justice released further documents on January 30 this year.
The latest documents included emails between Mandelson and Epstein that showed a Labor insider sending government policy advice and other information to his friend in the US.
“Officers arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the Metropolitan Police said.
“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday 23 February and taken to London police station for questioning.
“This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
In one example of contact between Mandelson and Epstein, a Labor figure emailed his friend in June 2009 containing a UK government document setting out a potential policy on asset sales.
Mandelson suggested to Epstein that this could lead to land and property sales.
In another example, Mandelson appeared to lobby the UK Treasury on banking policy, issues he discussed with Epstein.
Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing.
More to come
Take notes directly from our foreign country reporters about things that make headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What’s on in the World Newsletter.
David Crowe is the European correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect with: X or email.
