Mandelson-Epstein latest: Police to review reports of alleged misconduct ‘after ex-minister leaked government email’

Our political correspondent Athena Stavrou shares:

Although Lord Peter Mandelson resigned from the Labor Party on Sunday, his rank is unlikely to be revoked.

The former US ambassador became a Labor Party Member in 2008 but is currently on leave.

In light of new allegations that emerged over the weekend, there have been calls in recent days for him to be removed from the House of Lords altogether.

But doing so would require a complex process in which the government would have to propose and pass specific legislation to remove his nobility.

Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey said in a statement on Monday morning that she understood Lord Mandelson had no plans to return to the Lords at this time.

If he were to do this, he would have to give three months’ notice. When the next parliamentary session begins in May, he will have to decide whether to apply for another leave or return, or whether he can retire at any time.

Lord Mandelson appeared to have foreshadowed Jeffrey Epstein’s €500 billion bailout to save the Euro.

On the evening of May 9, 2010, he texted Epstein about the rescue plan before it was officially announced the next morning.

Emails showed internal discussions from the heart of Gordon Brown’s government were communicated to Epstein in 2009.

Lord Mandelson, then business secretary, wrote to Epstein in June 2009, describing an “interesting memo to the Prime Minister” from Mr Brown’s adviser Nick Butler, conveying his assessment of potential policy measures, including business confidence and an “asset sale scheme”.

The sensitive email also covers tax policies and states that business believes the Conservatives will win the next general election.

Mr Brown is calling on his government to develop an active fiscal policy by selling “saleable assets” to the private sector to alleviate debt.

This would allow Labor to enter the election with a commitment to not make any further increases in corporation or top-rate income taxes.

Epstein responded by asking “what marketable (sic) assets” and “land, property I guess,” came a reply from a redacted email address.

The Government has said it is ready to “provide whatever support and assistance the police require” after the Metropolitan Police received reports of alleged misconduct in a public office.

Police said they received the reports following the release of another section of documents related to pedophilia financier Jeffrey Epstein.

A Government spokesman said: “It is for the police to decide whether an investigation should be carried out and the Government stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police require.”

Lord Mandelson has revealed why her husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva accepted money from Jeffrey Epstein to fund an osteopathy course.

Referring to the ravenous financier as the “bubonic plague”, he said: “Epstein said that there was an educational foundation that gave Reinaldo a scholarship or scholarship and offered for a course in osteopathy. I saw it as a courtesy, nothing more. This helped Reinaldo a lot and I thanked him.”

“In retrospect, Reinaldo’s acceptance of this offer was clearly a mistake in our collective judgment. It was not a consequential decision at the time.”

There is no allegation of any wrongdoing by Reinaldo.