Mandelson-Epstein latest: Starmer to release explosive documents as police launch criminal investigation

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said today’s humble speech motion would help “reveal the truth” about Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.

In a post about

“This cover-up has gone on too long.”

Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

“Nigel Farage” is mentioned 36 times in the Epstein files.

However, many of the Reform UK leader’s remarks in some of the documents appear in newspaper reports sent to Jeffrey Epstein, many of which are repetitions of each other.

He is also mentioned by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who boasted that he was Farage’s advisor in messages he sent to Epstein in March 2018.

“I am now advisor to the Front; salvini/ league; afd; swiss people; orban; land and freedom; farage; — there are European Parliament elections next May — we can go from 92! seats to 200 — we can shut down any crypto legislation or anything else we want,” Mr. Bannon wrote.

“Understood,” Epstein replied.

The presence of his name or picture in the files does not mean that it constitutes a crime.

Analysis by Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin

The prime minister told his cabinet on Tuesday that Mandelson had “let his country down”.

Expect more of this language at PMQs today.

When Sir Keir next appears in the House of Commons he will have to try to cover up the scandal that has engulfed his party and government for days.

But no matter how strong the condemnation of Mandelson is, the government, by his own admission, fears further revelations about the relationship with Epstein will emerge.

Sir Keir was also forced to agree to release documents relating to Mandelson’s role as ambassador to Washington.

This story has a lot to tell.

Sir Keir Starmer will be pressed at Prime Minister’s Questions at lunchtime today over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador in 2024.

Kemi Badenoch introduced a modest motion in the House of Commons; it was a secret parliamentary mechanism to try to force the government to publish documents, including due diligence carried out by the Cabinet Office, emails between Lord Mandelson and his ally Mr McSweeney, and details of the severance payment made to him following his sacking.

Ms Badenoch also demanded Downing Street explain the investigation process and claimed concerns had been “dispelled” by the prime minister’s “political appointment of a man who was a close friend of a convicted pedophile”.

Political editor David Maddox reports:

Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to agree to publish any review papers into Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US is unprecedented.

Normally such things only come to light through leaks or protracted legal or political battles, but the prime minister essentially caved in at the initial request of the Conservative Party.

But given the anger in the Labor backbenches and the possibility of a major riot if he attempted to oppose publication entirely, Sir Keir had no choice but to concede one way or another.

But the implications of what is happening and what the documents could potentially provide are huge.

What we are seeing is the disintegration of the Labor Party, one of the political pillars of British democracy, before our eyes for over forty years.

Mandelson was at the heart of the creation of New Labour; He became a close associate and advisor to three generations of Labor leaders. His dramatic decline is something that goes beyond his personal reputation but affects the wider Labor Party and its leaders.

No wonder Gordon Brown, unlike Starmer, acted with such determined anger at what was revealed.

Political correspondent Athena Stavrou reports:

While the Prime Minister faces questions over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, the health secretary admitted there are “clearly lessons to be learned” when it comes to the government’s vetting processes.

Asked whether it was an error of judgment to review Peter Mandelson only after his appointment, Wes Streeting said: “There are clearly lessons to be learned, to put it mildly.”

The health secretary said Lord Mandelson had been appointed “based on his experience” but told Times Radio: “None of that experience outweighs the seriousness of Peter Mandelson’s actions and poor decisions. That’s why he is being taken extremely seriously.”

Political correspondent Athena Stavrou reports:

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to release key documents regarding the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, the health secretary has confirmed.

The documents are expected to contain information about the vetting process Lord Mandelson went through before being given the Washington post.

If the Prime Minister is released today, he could avoid being forced to release the documents by the Conservatives, who plan to use the parliamentary machinery to do so this afternoon.

Asked whether the government would release the documents on Wednesday morning, Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It will release information about the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.

“An exception would be anything that endangers our national security and security services and their work and could undermine our international relations.”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein solicited an exotic dancer for a threesome at the late pedophile’s Florida home, legal letters claim.

In a document unsealed Friday as part of millions of pages about Epstein, lawyers for the unnamed woman said the couple offered to pay her and others “$10,000 for the performance.”

In the letter dated March 23, 2011, the woman’s legal representatives accused Andrew and Epstein of “overpowering her to engage in various sexual acts” during the alleged encounter “in early 2006.”

The lawyers also alleged that “14-year-old” women who were “provocatively dressed” were present at the party at Epstein’s West Palm Beach home.

The letter also stated that the unnamed woman would be content to keep the alleged encounter secret “in exchange for a payment of $250,000.”

The claim is separate from that of Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times: once at sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home, once at Epstein’s address in Manhattan and once on the disgraced financier’s private island Little St James.

Andrew vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Political correspondent Athena Stavrou reports:

Wes Streeting said there was a sense of “deep betrayal” in the government and the Labor Party after new revelations about Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein emerged over the weekend.

The health secretary described Lord Mandelson’s behavior as “utterly outrageous” and said he felt “completely betrayed”.

“There’s anger across the political spectrum about this and there’s anger all over the country,” he told Sky News.

“I can tell you that this has been felt particularly keenly in the Labor Party because we also think it is a portrayal of our values.”

He added: “He betrayed two prime ministers. He betrayed his country and our national interests. He betrayed Epstein’s victims.”