LONDON — The UK government published more than 1,000 pages of documents containing private messages exchanged between Peter Mandelson and government ministers and officials. The release complies with a humble address passed by the House of Commons requiring disclosure of information related to Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the United States.
The humble address was tabled by the Conservative Party to examine how Mandelson was appointed ambassador despite his known friendship with Jeffrey Epstein following Epstein’s conviction for child sex offences. The Foreign Office did not appear to ensure that the “mitigations” in place to manage security risks associated with Mandelson’s appointment were substantial.
Mandelson’s appointment was influenced by his close relationship with Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff. McSweeney and Prime Minister Keir Starmer believed Mandelson’s connections with wealthy individuals would help him build a relationship with Donald Trump, though the Trump administration did not want Mandelson as UK ambassador.
The released messages are expected to include humiliating remarks about Starmer exchanged between Mandelson and government frontbenchers. Chris Mason, the BBC’s political editor, said some of the messages would be “excruciating.”
Health Secretary James Murray told Sky News: “I think the level of transparency is going to be unprecedented. The volume of information that’s going to be put out is unprecedented. It’s right we do that. We have been very clear that the appointment of Mandelson was wrong. Parliament then decided that this information will be made public. The government is fully complying with that, and it’s important that we honour that commitment to transparency.”
Material deemed “prejudicial to UK national security or international relations” will be withheld from the release. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, will make a statement to MPs after 3:30pm to mark the publication.