Lord Peter Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Lord Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK's US ambassador last September, is under criminal investigation after he was named in the Jeffrey Epstein files, as ITV News' UK Editor Paul Brand reports
Lord Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The former Labour minister has been accused of passing sensitive information onto paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary.
The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested the 72-year-old on Monday, and he was taken to a London police station to be interviewed.
Two officers were seen entering his London home, with a third person entering shortly after. Lord Mandelson was then escorted from his home by plain-clothed officers before being driven away.
The former Labour minister has been accused of passing highly sensitive government information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary under former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Two of his properties were previously searched by police in connection with the allegations, which surfaced following the US Department of Justice’s document dump related to Epstein last month.
In a statement confirming his arrest, the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, February 23 and has been taken to a London police station for interview.
“This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
Mandelson was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office
As part of the release of documents relating to the Epstein investigation, newly published emails appear to show Lord Mandelson passing on information relating to Gordon Brown's response to the financial crisis to Epstein.
He also appeared to discuss a tax on bankers’ bonuses and confirm an imminent bailout package for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010.
The emails appeared to be sent to Epstein after he became a convicted sex offender.
Lord Mandelson has not publicly commented in recent weeks on the Epstein files. According to the BBC, he is understood to believe he has not committed any offence.
Lord Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador in September after Downing Street said fresh revelations about his relationship with Epstein had emerged.
He resigned from the House of Lords earlier this month, following the release of the so-called Epstein files; however, due to parliamentary procedure, he retains his title.
The government said on Monday it was working on legislation to remove his title.
Leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, said Lord Mandelson's arrest is the "defining moment of Keir Starmer's premiership".
"Watching the man who he appointed to the highest position in our diplomatic service getting arrested by police, I think, is an image that's going to stay with all of us for many, many years to come," she added.
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Lord Mandelson's arrest comes days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Andrew was detained on February 19 for 11 hours while officers searched his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. He was released under investigation.
The crisis over Lord Mandelson's connections to Epstein led to fury in the Labour Party and almost toppled Sir Keir Starmer's government.
The furore led to the resignation of Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who was seen as a protege of Lord Mandelson.
Before Lord Mandelson's arrest was announced by police, MPs were told the first tranche of documents related to his appointment as US ambassador was expected to be released “very shortly in early March”.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said some of the correspondence between Downing Street and the peer will be delayed “because of the Metropolitan Police interest”.
The publication could create more headaches for the government, who were forced to concede earlier this month that the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) would have the final say on what documents were deemed a risk to national security or international relations.
The government had originally wanted to make that determination itself, but was forced to give it to the ISC amid a potential rebellion from Labour's backbenches.
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