Mandelson Files: All Key Revelations from Bombshell Epstein-Linked Documents
The government has released the first batch of documents concerning Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, months after the disgraced politician was forced to resign when his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was fully exposed. The nearly 150-page dossier, published on the government's website, shows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer received clear warnings about Mandelson's Epstein links, piling pressure on the Labour leader over his judgement in appointing the party grandee to a sensitive diplomatic role.
Starmer Warned Over Mandelson's Ongoing Epstein Relationship
The documents reveal the prime minister was warned in unequivocal terms about Mandelson's continuing relationship with Epstein, including reports the peer stayed in the paedophile's flat while Epstein was imprisoned. A December 2024 due diligence report highlighted a "general reputational risk" in appointing Lord Mandelson because of this association.
In a section titled "Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein", the report stated: "After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's house while he was in jail in June 2009."
However, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told MPs the due diligence report "did not expose the depth and extent" of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein.
Mandelson Awarded £75,000 Taxpayer Payout After Demanding Over £500,000
Lord Mandelson received a £75,000 payout – funded by taxpayers – following his dismissal as UK ambassador to the United States. The files show the peer initially demanded a full contract payout exceeding £500,000 during severance negotiations.
Mr Jones told Parliament the disgraced peer's request for more than £500,000 – over six times the final amount – was "inappropriate and unacceptable".
Officials Raised Concerns Over 'Weirdly Rushed' Appointment Process
Senior officials expressed serious reservations about Lord Mandelson's appointment. National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell described the process as "unusual" and "weirdly rushed" according to a 12 September call record.
The memo indicated Mr Powell "raised concerns about the individual and reputation" to Sir Keir's then-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who reportedly responded that "the issues had been addressed". Philip Barton, then-Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, "also had reservations around the appointment".
PM's Communications Director Admitted Being Mandelson's 'Personal Friend'
Sir Keir's then director of communications Matthew Doyle initially defended Mandelson's appointment before later admitting the politician was a "personal friend". A briefing note to the prime minister reveals civil servants arranged to brief Sir Keir personally about Mandelson's Epstein relationship.
The note stated: "We have sought a due diligence...and your chief of staff [Morgan McSweeney] has discussed Peter's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, which we will go through with you, but your director of communications [Matthew Doyle] is satisfied with his responses to questions about contact."
After Mandelson's sacking in September last year, an investigation by the PM's general counsel noted Lord Doyle described Mandelson as "a personal friend" during a telephone interview. Doyle was made a peer after resigning as communications director and has since been suspended from the Labour Party over separate propriety questions.
Clinton and Mandelson Arranged Blair-Epstein Meeting
The files reveal Bill Clinton and Peter Mandelson facilitated a meeting between then-Prime Minister Tony Blair and Epstein, with Mandelson describing the financier as both "young and vibrant" and "safe".
In a 2002 email to National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, Lord Mandelson wrote: "Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB? I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies. He is young and vibrant. He is safe (whatever that means) and Clinton is now doing a lot of travelling with him."
Mr Blair subsequently met Epstein at 5pm on 14 May 2002. Following these revelations, the former prime minister reissued a statement clarifying this was his only contact with the convicted paedophile – occurring long before Epstein's crimes were known.
A spokesperson said: "As far as he can remember, Mr Blair met with him for less than 30 minutes in Downing Street in May 2002, and discussed US and UK politics. He never met or engaged with him subsequently. This was, of course, long before his crimes were known of and his subsequent conviction."
Mandelson Sacked After Epstein Email Revelations
Sir Keir decided to dismiss Lord Mandelson after emails released by Bloomberg "revealed a depth and extent of a relationship with Epstein which he had not been aware of previously when he made the decision to appoint Mandelson" in 2024, according to a No 10 private office record of an 11 September meeting.
The memo stated: "On this basis, he proposed to ask Mandelson to resign from his post as HMA Washington." Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Olly Robbins then "spoke by telephone to Mandelson towards the end of the meeting to inform him of the prime minister's decision and of the next steps", adding that "the palace had been informed of the decision during the meeting".
The document release follows MPs ordering the government last month to publish tens of thousands of files relating to the 2024 appointment amid questions about the peer's vetting process.
