Mandelson-Epstein latest: MPs approve release of files as police ask government not to publish ‘certain documents’

The controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson, who has left the House of Lords, resigned from the Labor Party, been removed from the Privy Council and faces a criminal investigation following new revelations from the so-called Epstein files, has led to intensifying questions about Sir Keir’s political future.

Labour’s Mainstream group called for a “clean break” after its colleague was “betrayed” by being appointed to “one of the most powerful diplomatic posts on the planet”, despite his friendship with Epstein being public knowledge.

The centre-left group, backed by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, long seen as a potential leadership rival to Sir Keir, said its members did not want to watch the party “succumb to the same old disease” of “elite privilege, diversion and toxic factionalism”.

Sir Keir Starmer will warn that the “catastrophic decline” of communities could endanger national security as he seeks to put aside growing anger over the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.

The Prime Minister will say “Britain is weakened by political neglect” as he announces new £800m funding to revamp worn-out high streets on Thursday.

Sir Keir is expected to say: “Britain has been weakened by political neglect and the scorched earth of Tory austerity. In towns across Britain, it is the same story, high streets, youth clubs (that shape life), places that bring different people together and create bonds of memory and pride have been abandoned.”

“For in this dangerous age, politics is no longer about left and right, but a contest between innovation and grievance. It is between those who accept the idea that society is a zero-sum competition and those who believe we can unite for a higher purpose.”

“We have entered the final phase of the Starmer premiership as there is no turning back for the Prime Minister,” Andrew Marr said live on LBC.

A minister said the documents would be released by the Cabinet Secretary, working with lawyers, or passed to the Intelligence and Security Committee for decisions on material deemed potentially at odds with national security or foreign affairs.

The Prime Minister had backtracked from an original plan to have senior civil servant Sir Chris Wormald decide which documents could not be released on national security grounds or because they could harm international relations.

Under pressure from Labor MPs led by former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Sir Keir Starmer conceded that the decision could be made by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) instead.

Minister Chris Ward told the House of Commons: “I would like to confirm to the House that the material will not be released today due to discussions with the Metropolitan Police about this matter, but will be released as soon as possible in line with the process set out before the House.”

He said there was “a lot of material” to review and pointed to other low-key addresses that took “weeks or months.”