Mandelson Allegedly Recommended Luxury Italian Villa to Epstein for 'Guests'
Peter Mandelson, the former Labour peer, appears to have recommended a 16-room luxury holiday home in Italy to Jeffrey Epstein, where the convicted paedophile could host his 'guests' in private following his release from house arrest. This revelation emerges from an email chain released by the US Department of Justice as part of the latest tranche of Epstein files, dating back to August 2010.
Email Details and Villa Description
In the email, believed to be from Mandelson, he informs Epstein that he has found a 'great place to stay on the Amalfi coast near to Positano.' The message describes the location as a Zeferelli home converted into beautiful suites, offering 'privacy with accompanying rooms for your "guests".' Notably, the word 'guests' is placed in quotation marks, raising questions about who exactly was being referred to in this context.
The sender's email address has been redacted, but investigations by BBC News and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism have identified it as originating from Mandelson. Partial visibility of the email address and the use of 'Myk'—shorthand for the Greek island of Mykonos, which Mandelson has used in other messages—support this identification. Additionally, the emails were sent from a Blackberry, which was Mandelson's preferred device at the time.
Police Raids and Misconduct Investigation
These revelations coincide with police raids on Mandelson's two homes yesterday, as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in a public office. Officers are probing accusations that he sent market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as business secretary during the financial crisis. The raids targeted his £12 million London house and a rented farmhouse in Wiltshire, with police sifting through boxes of evidence removed from both addresses.
Mandelson has not been arrested but may face questioning from Metropolitan Police detectives in the coming weeks. A spokesperson for Mandelson stated that he 'did not discover the truth about Epstein until after his death in 2019' and has no recollection of sending the email. He expressed profound regret for believing Epstein's lies and for the lack of protection afforded to vulnerable women and girls.
Political Fallout and Government Scrutiny
The scandal has triggered significant political fallout, with senior Government figures preparing to hand over messages linked to Mandelson's appointment as Britain's ambassador to the US last year. Sir Keir Starmer warned that a 'very substantial volume of material' would likely need reviewing, overseen by Parliament's security watchdog following a Government climbdown.
Downing Street has agreed to disclose a broader remit of documents, including potentially embarrassing messages between ministers and officials, after Labour backlash against initial exemptions. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) now controls which files are released, with tens of thousands of emails and documents potentially in scope. Sir Keir believes these files will prove Mandelson lied during his vetting, though Scotland Yard has requested some documents be withheld to avoid jeopardising the criminal probe.
Internal Labour Pressure and Historical Regrets
Pressure is mounting within Labour ranks for Sir Keir to sack his senior adviser, Morgan McSweeney, whom many MPs blame for Mandelson's appointment. Some Labour MPs have even suggested the Prime Minister should consider his position, though others hesitate due to a lack of obvious challengers. Reports indicate that former deputy Angela Rayner, who allegedly warned against the appointment, is poised for a potential leadership campaign, though her spokesperson denies these claims.
In a speech, Sir Keir accused Mandelson of lying about his relationship with Epstein during vetting and apologised to Epstein's victims for believing these 'lies.' Meanwhile, former prime minister Gordon Brown has expressed deep regret for appointing Mandelson to a ministerial role in 2008, citing a betrayal of principles and calling for US-style confirmation hearings for future ministers to ensure transparency.
Villa Details and Lack of Evidence
The holiday home referenced in the email is believed to be Villa Treville, a 16-suite hotel located on a clifftop overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. However, there is no evidence that Epstein ever visited this property. As the investigation continues, the full extent of Mandelson's connections and actions remains under intense scrutiny, with potential implications for both his legacy and current political dynamics.
