In December 2024, a document flagged concerns to Starmer as he contemplated appointing Mandelson, whose role was deemed crucial in fostering strong ties with US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The civil service head advised the prime minister, outlining Mandelson’s two-decade-long association with Epstein. It highlighted that “Mandelson reportedly stayed at Epstein’s residence during his incarceration in June 2009” for crimes involving a minor.
The document also pointed out other unrelated reputational challenges regarding Mandelson’s tenure in a previous Labour government, where he resigned twice over financial issues, and his involvement with Global Counsel, a lobbying firm he co-founded.
Lawmakers have compelled Starmer’s administration to release thousands of files regarding the decision to appoint Mandelson to a significant diplomatic role at the beginning of Trump’s second term.
The authorities made public the initial set of documents—over 140 pages—pertaining to these connections on the government’s website on Wednesday.
Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, stated that the due diligence process on Mandelson “did not uncover the full extent” of his relationship with Epstein, and accused Mandelson of misleading Starmer about their friendship.
“Peter Mandelson should never have been afforded the privilege of representing this country,” Jones told lawmakers in the House of Commons.
“I reiterate for the House that the prime minister deeply regrets taking him at his word. It was a mistake to do so.”
The documents are being published in batches after review by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee. Police have asked the government not to release files that could compromise their criminal investigation into Mandelson.
The documents published on Wednesday note that Epstein was asked questions about his relationship with Epstein, and say the prime minister’s communications director was “satisfied with his responses.”
The responses themselves have not been published because of the police probe.
Mandelson, 72, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, was arrested February 23 at his London home on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has been released without bail conditions as the police investigation continues.
He has previously denied wrongdoing and hasn’t been charged. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.
Starmer fired Mandelson in September after an earlier release of documents showed he had maintained contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sexual offenses involving a minor.
Further details about Mandelson’s ties with Epstein, revealed in a huge trove of files published by the US Department of Justice in January, drove opponents and even some members of Starmer’s Labour Party to call for the prime minister’s resignation.
Starmer survived the immediate danger, but his position remains fragile, even though he never met Epstein and is not implicated in his crimes.
The Epstein files suggest that Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to the convicted sex offender when he was the UK government’s business secretary after the 2008 financial crisis. That includes an internal government report discussing ways the UK could raise money, including by selling off government assets.
Mandelson also appears to have told Epstein he would lobby other members of the government to reduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses.
Starmer has apologised to Epstein’s victims and said he was sorry for “having believed Mandelson’s lies”.
Mandelson is also facing a separate probe by the European Union’s anti-fraud office for the time he spent as the bloc’s trade representative.
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