The Metropolitan Police have launched a significant operation, searching two properties connected to Lord Peter Mandelson as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Officers from the Met's Central Specialist Crime team executed search warrants at an address in the Wiltshire area and another in the Camden area on Friday afternoon.
Investigation into Alleged Misconduct
This police action is directly related to a formal investigation into alleged offences of misconduct in public office, focusing on a 72-year-old man who has not been arrested at this stage. The inquiry stems from serious allegations that emerged from documents released as part of the so-called Epstein files.
Epstein Connection and Financial Crisis Allegations
According to the allegations, while serving as Business Secretary during the 2008 financial crisis, Lord Mandelson is accused of passing market-sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The documents suggest this information sharing occurred at a critical moment for the British economy.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart of the Metropolitan Police confirmed the operation in an official statement, noting that inquiries remain ongoing. She emphasized that the individual under investigation has not been taken into custody, but the police are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry.
Scene at Mandelson's London Residence
At Lord Mandelson's residence near Regent's Park in central London, several individuals believed to be police officers were observed entering the property. One officer appeared to be equipped with a body camera, while others brought a blue box and a large bag into the house, suggesting a thorough evidence collection process was underway.
Political Fallout and Diplomatic Appointment Controversy
The investigation has created substantial political turbulence for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who faces mounting pressure over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the United States. In response to the growing controversy, Sir Keir has publicly defended his handling of the situation while acknowledging shortcomings in the vetting process.
During a speech on Thursday, the Prime Minister accused Lord Mandelson of lying during his ambassadorial vetting and offered an apology to Epstein's victims for initially believing what he described as the peer's "lies." Sir Keir insisted that "none of us knew the depth of the darkness" of Lord Mandelson's relationship with Epstein at the time of the appointment.
Document Release and Parliamentary Scrutiny
The full extent of what was known about the relationship between Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein is expected to be revealed when documents relating to the diplomatic appointment are published. This follows a parliamentary motion demanding their release, though the process may be delayed by necessary security reviews.
Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee must examine any documents the Government wishes to withhold for national security reasons. Additionally, the Metropolitan Police has requested certain documents be withheld, arguing their release could jeopardize the ongoing criminal investigation.
Internal Labour Party Tensions
Within the Labour Party, significant internal pressure is building against Sir Keir Starmer's most senior adviser, Morgan McSweeney. Several Labour MPs are calling for McSweeney's dismissal, blaming the Downing Street chief of staff for aggressively pushing Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's top diplomat in Washington despite apparent red flags.
Lord Mandelson, a former Labour grandee, has already resigned from the party and stood down from the House of Lords amid the allegations. While he has not spoken publicly about the investigation, sources indicate he maintains he did not act criminally and that his actions were not for personal gain.
