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Lord Mandelson arrest – the five bombshells you need to know | Politics | News
Lord Mandelson arrested on suspicion of abuse of public office (Image: SKY NEWS)
5 things you need to know as Lord Mandelson is arrested
- Lord Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of abuse of public office. The Met Police said the 72-year-old was taken to a London police station for an interview on Monday. Lord Mandelson is accused of giving sensitive information to billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein while he was trade secretary. He denies any wrongdoing and has previously apologized for his links to the financier.
- The allegations emerged after the US Department of Justice released the latest statement from the so-called Epstein files. Emails from 2009 appear to show Lord Mandelson relaying Gordon Brown’s adviser’s assessment of potential policy measures, including an “asset sales plan”. It was also revealed that he discussed a tax on bankers’ bonuses and endorsed an imminent bailout of the euro, the day before it was announced in 2010.
- Lord Mandelson’s arrest comes just days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was detained on suspicion of abuse of public office. The former Duke of York was released under investigation after being accused of sharing sensitive information with Epstein while he was Britain’s trade envoy.
- His arrest puts pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, who has come under intense criticism for his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. The Prime Minister admitted he knew about his ongoing links to Epstein, but insisted he had “lied repeatedly” about the extent of the relationship when asked. It is the latest development in his fall from grace that has seen him resign his membership of the Labor Party and stand down from the House of Lords.
- Shortly before the Met Police announced Lord Mandelson’s arrest, the Government confirmed that the first documents relating to his appointment to the Washington post would be shared early next month. The Prime Minister was forced by Labor MPs and opposition parties to agree to the release of the documents. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Lord Mandelson’s arrest was the “defining moment of Keir Starmer’s premiership”. He added: “It’s time to release the full Mandelson files. We need to know who knew what and when. No more delays.”
