More Papers on Mandelson's US Ambassador Job Likely Before Christmas
More official papers about Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador are due out, probably before Christmas. Part of the file will still be kept back at the request of the Metropolitan Police.
An appointment that ended in a sacking
Mandelson, a lifelong Labour politician, took up the ambassador's post in February 2025. Downing Street dismissed him in September, saying fresh information had come to light about the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The government of the day was led by Sir Keir Starmer. It faced heavy criticism for giving him the job, and in February MPs voted to compel it to publish the papers on how he was chosen.
Two batches so far
Documents were released in March and again in June. Others stayed unpublished because they overlapped with the Met's inquiry, which concerns allegations about Mandelson's time as a government minister.
Those allegations say he passed market-sensitive government information to Epstein, the late convicted sex offender. Mandelson was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has repeatedly said he believes he acted lawfully, took no personal gain and is working with police. In a statement the Met said its investigation is ongoing.
What changes now
The Cabinet Office says a number of extra documents will be published, with some still held back at the Met's request. Its permanent secretary, Cat Little, told the chair of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee that part of the material can now go out "without prejudicing their investigation".
Officials are starting to prepare the papers so they can be laid before the House in answer to the MPs' motion. Each one will be reviewed. Some may be redacted to protect national security or international relations. The aim is to finish before the Christmas recess begins on 17 December.
The opposition's view
Mike Wood, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said: "We still haven't got to the bottom of the Mandelson scandal." He added that Labour had tried its utmost to hold the information back, and that it emerged only because of the Conservatives' humble address.
Source: BBC News