Starmer Backs Police Probe Into Lord Mandelson Over Epstein 'Leaks'

Downing Street has backed a police investigation into whether Lord Peter Mandelson broke the law by leaking highly-sensitive government documents to Jeffrey Epstein when he was in the cabinet.

Emails between the former Labour peer and the paedophile financier appear to show Mandelson passing on top secret information about how Gordon Brown’s administration was dealing with the aftermath of the global financial crash in 2008.

They included a pledge to lobby ministers about possibly watering down the bankers’ bonus tax, and confirmation of an imminent bailout for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010.

Elsewhere in the files released by the US Department of Justice, bank statements appear to show Mandelson received $75,000 in three separate payments from Epstein in 2003 and 2004.

The New Labour veteran, who also served in Tony Blair’s government, has said he has no recollection of receiving the money.

Meanwhile, Epstein – who died in a prison cell in 2019 – also gave Mandelson’s husband Reinaldo $10,000 for a osteopathy course.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Monday night they had received “a number of reports relating to alleged misconduct in a public office” which would be reviewed to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation.

A government spokesperson said: “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 latest developments came after the prime minister called for Mandelson to be removed from the House of Lords.

Starmer wants the Lords authorities to work with the government to change its rules so that “disgraced” members can be kicked out and their titles removed.

“The prime minister believes that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title,” said his official spokesman.

“However, the prime minister does not have the power to remove it. He is calling on those in the Lords to work with the house to make it easier to remove peerages from those who have brought the house into disrepute.”

It is another remarkable U-turn from the PM, who appointed Mandelson to be the UK’s ambassador to America a year ago.

However, he sacked him just months later after the release of other files relating to Epstein showed Mandelson kept in touch with him even after the billionaire was convicted of soliciting a child for prostitution.