Government Documents Reveal Details on Lord Mandelson's Appointment and Sacking
Government documents spanning 147 pages have disclosed new information regarding the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States and the consequences following his dismissal last year.
This marks the initial release of files connected to the hiring and subsequent firing of Lord Mandelson, made public after Members of Parliament compelled the government to disclose the documents.
Lord Mandelson was dismissed as ambassador last year following revelations about his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer is currently under criminal investigation concerning allegations of misconduct in public office. He has consistently maintained that he believes he has not engaged in criminal behavior, did not act for personal gain, and is cooperating with the police.
Below are the key points extracted from the first set of documents.
Keir Starmer Was Warned of Reputational Risks
The documents indicate that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was cautioned that Lord Mandelson's relationship with Epstein posed a "general reputational risk" prior to his confirmation as US ambassador.
In an advisory note sent to the prime minister on 11 December 2024, nine days before Mandelson's confirmation as ambassador, additional reputational risks were highlighted. These included Lord Mandelson's history of previous dismissals from government positions.
The prime minister has asserted that he was unaware of "the extent and depth" of Lord Mandelson's relationship with Epstein at the time of the appointment.
However, in light of this advisory note, the prime minister is expected to face scrutiny regarding his judgment.
Mandelson Requested £500,000 Severance Payment
Civil servants, including those in ambassadorial roles, may be eligible for severance packages upon termination of employment.
The documents suggest that Lord Mandelson sought a severance payment exceeding £500,000 following his dismissal as the UK's ambassador to the US.
This claim has been reiterated by Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Prime Minister, during a session in the House of Commons.
Jones stated the government found that demand to be "inappropriate and unacceptable".
The BBC understands that Lord Mandelson disputes this claim and insists he clearly communicated that he had no intention of pursuing an employment tribunal case.
Ultimately, the Treasury agreed to a payment of £75,000.
An email included in the documents, authored by an official, remarked that the government did "well to get this settlement down this low with minimal fuss".
Senior Adviser Described Appointment as 'Weirdly Rushed'
Within the documents, the prime minister's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, expressed that he found Lord Mandelson's appointment "weirdly rushed".
Powell reportedly raised concerns "about the individual and reputation" to Sir Keir's former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.
Powell previously worked extensively with Lord Mandelson, primarily serving as chief of staff to the prime minister during Tony Blair's administration from 1997 to 2007.
Currently a senior adviser to Sir Keir, Powell's opinion would have held significant influence during the appointment process. There is no indication of any wrongdoing by Lord Mandelson.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Document Releases
It is important to note that this is only the first of several document releases anticipated in the coming weeks and months.
Officials are reviewing thousands of documents, and the material published today may represent only a fraction of the total information.
Speaking in the Commons, Darren Jones noted that the Metropolitan Police requested the government withhold certain documents to avoid prejudicing its criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson.
Lord Mandelson was arrested last month on suspicion of leaking sensitive government information during his tenure as business secretary in the previous Labour government.
Lord Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment, but the BBC understands his position is that he has not acted criminally and was not motivated by financial gain.
A notable omission from this initial batch of documents is a vetting exchange involving three questions posed by Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's former chief of staff, to Lord Mandelson about his connections to Epstein.
Sir Keir has claimed that the documents will demonstrate that Lord Mandelson lied about the extent of his friendship with Epstein, which persisted after Epstein's conviction in 2008.
The BBC understands that Lord Mandelson maintains he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein accurately during the vetting process.
Jones told MPs these matters were "at heart of the police investigation".
He added that all documents within the scope for release will be published in due course.
