Metropolitan Police to Examine Mandelson-Epstein Reports for Criminal Threshold
The Metropolitan Police has announced it will conduct a formal review of multiple reports concerning alleged misconduct in a public office linked to Lord Peter Mandelson. This development follows the explosive release of millions of documents related to the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein last Friday, in which the former Labour minister features prominently.
Government Considers Strengthening Lords Disciplinary Procedures
In response to the escalating scandal, the government is now actively moving to toughen disciplinary procedures within the House of Lords. The revelations have sparked intense political debate about accountability and standards in the upper chamber, with cross-party calls for stricter measures to address breaches of conduct.
Details of the Leaked Communications Emerge
The police review centres on sensitive emails that appear to show Lord Mandelson sharing confidential government information with Epstein. Key disclosures include:
- An email from June 2009 in which Mandelson, then serving as Business Secretary, forwarded an internal assessment to Epstein. This document, prepared by adviser Nick Butler, discussed business confidence, potential tax policies, and an "asset sales plan" to relieve national debt.
- A message sent on the evening of 9 May 2010, where Mandelson seemingly provided Epstein with advanced notice of a €500 billion bailout package designed to save the Euro, a full day before its official announcement.
- Further correspondence where Mandelson discussed lobbying ministers over a proposed tax on bankers' bonuses in 2009 and commented on persuading then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown to resign.
Nick Butler, the author of the 2009 memo, has condemned the leak as a "disgusting breach of trust", while Gordon Brown himself has demanded an investigation into what he terms the "wholly unacceptable disclosure" of sensitive information.
Political Fallout and Peerage Status Under Scrutiny
Despite resigning from the Labour Party on Sunday, Lord Mandelson's position in the House of Lords remains legally complex. Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey confirmed that Mandelson currently has no plans to return to the Lords and is on a leave of absence.
However, revoking his peerage would require the government to propose and pass specific legislation—a lengthy and complicated parliamentary process. Mandelson must decide by May, when the next parliamentary session begins, whether to apply for another leave of absence, return to the chamber, or retire entirely.
Government and Police Statements on the Case
A government spokesperson stated: "It is rightly for the police to determine whether to investigate and the government stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police need." The Metropolitan Police, in its official statement, confirmed it had received "a number of reports" and would review them to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for a full investigation.
Mandelson's Personal Response and Further Context
In a recent interview with The Times, Lord Mandelson described the intense scrutiny as feeling like a "5.30am drive-by shooting", adding that it was "like being killed without actually dying". He claimed to have no memory or record of the historical emails in question.
Mandelson also addressed why his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, accepted money from Epstein's educational foundation to fund an osteopathy course, calling it a "lapse in our collective judgment" while maintaining there was no suggestion of wrongdoing by his husband.
The unfolding scandal continues to dominate political discourse, with significant implications for parliamentary standards, police procedures, and the legacy of the Epstein case in British public life.
