The Metropolitan Police has initiated a formal criminal investigation into serious allegations that Labour peer Peter Mandelson leaked market-sensitive information and Downing Street emails to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This dramatic development comes as Conservative MPs prepare to trigger a rare parliamentary vote aimed at compelling the release of confidential documents detailing the vetting process for Mandelson's recent appointment as UK ambassador to the United States.
Conservative Motion to Force Transparency on Ambassador Appointment
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative business secretary, is set to utilise an arcane parliamentary procedure known as a humble address during Wednesday's opposition day debate. This mechanism, previously employed to release key Brexit papers, would mandate the government to disclose all communications, emails, WhatsApp messages, and texts related to Mandelson's selection for the prestigious diplomatic role in Washington.
Badenoch has framed the upcoming vote as a crucial test for Labour MPs, stating they must choose between supporting efforts to reveal the truth about Mandelson's appointment despite his known connections to Epstein, or helping Keir Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney avoid proper scrutiny over what she termed this sordid affair.
Pressure Mounts on Starmer's Inner Circle
The Conservative motion specifically targets McSweeney, who reportedly advocated strongly within Number 10 for Mandelson's ambassadorial appointment. The Tories will argue that McSweeney was deeply implicated in the scandal and that proper vetting procedures were circumvented. The humble address would demand publication of multiple sensitive documents including the due diligence process passed to Downing Street from the Cabinet Office, Mandelson's Conflict of Interest form submitted to the Foreign Office, and all material provided to UK security vetting authorities regarding his advisory firm Global Counsel.
Additionally, Badenoch has called upon Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald to question Justice Secretary David Lammy and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden about any knowledge they might possess regarding Mandelson's conduct during his tenure as business secretary, when both served as junior ministers in his department.
Labour MPs Reluctant to Oppose Disclosure
Significantly, Labour backbenchers have indicated they will not oppose the Conservative motion, with multiple MPs privately expressing concerns about the appointment process. One Labour MP noted substantial pressure from colleagues regarding what information Number 10 received before Mandelson's appointment, while another criticised what they described as a distinct incuriosity from Downing Street about the full extent of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein.
A third Labour parliamentarian characterised the vetting process as a botch job that merely gave Mandelson opportunity to excuse himself rather than conducting proper scrutiny. The consensus among Labour MPs appears to be that the whips office would struggle to convince members to vote against transparency regarding the Mandelson appointment, with one stating plainly that no colleague would be prepared to go through the division lobbies to oppose disclosure.
Wider Concerns About Confidential Information
Beyond the immediate vetting questions, MPs have expressed alarm about potential leaks of confidential information during Mandelson's tenure. One former minister highlighted that Gordon Brown had raised concerns about information leakage with the Cabinet Office just before Mandelson was dismissed as ambassador, suggesting more was known about these risks than has been publicly acknowledged.
Particular concern has been raised about Mandelson's contacts with US technology firm Palantir, which has secured UK government contracts and which Keir Starmer visited during his last trip to Washington DC. MPs argue there was a casualness to how sensitive emails were forwarded that requires full investigation and disclosure.
The foreign affairs committee has reportedly discussed whether to summon McSweeney to give evidence about the appointment process, though as a special adviser he could potentially refuse to appear. Meanwhile, Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords, and Downing Street officials confirmed that ministers have provided police with a dossier concerning the former business secretary.
As Westminster braces for Wednesday's crucial vote, the dual developments of a Metropolitan Police criminal investigation and parliamentary manoeuvres to force transparency have created a perfect storm around one of Labour's most prominent figures, raising fundamental questions about appointment processes and the handling of sensitive information at the highest levels of government.
