Second Batch of Mandelson Papers Published
A second set of documents related to Lord Mandelson's tenure as the UK ambassador to the United States was released on Monday. This follows a parliamentary vote in February to disclose the papers, aiming to shed light on the behind-the-scenes discussions concerning his appointment.
Lord Mandelson was dismissed from his ambassadorial role last year after revelations emerged in the US about the nature of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The total release comprises over 1,500 pages; however, several questions about the appointment process remain unresolved.
What Messages Remain Unseen?
The files include more than 160 pages of messages and WhatsApp communications between Lord Mandelson and government ministers and officials. However, the disclosure did not encompass data from Mandelson's personal phone, as he declined officials' requests to provide it.
Messages from Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff who resigned following Mandelson's dismissal amid scrutiny over his involvement in advocating for Mandelson's appointment, have not been made public. McSweeney reported his government phone stolen last year, and police have not recovered the device. Consequently, he has been unable to provide all his messages, though it is understood he submitted some communications with Mandelson to the Cabinet Office, possibly from his personal phone.
Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds also reported his personal phone stolen last year; this device reportedly contained messages with Mandelson. An associate has indicated that Thomas-Symonds has shared details of the messages he recalls.
Some published messages have been redacted citing national security concerns or to protect the UK's diplomatic relations, leaving their content undisclosed.
Why Did Vetting Officials Recommend Against Clearance?
The government has stated that Lord Mandelson was granted security clearance for the ambassadorial role by the Foreign Office despite the recommendation against clearance by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), which conducted his vetting. Downing Street has clarified that neither the prime minister nor any other government minister was aware of this at the time.
A previously released blank UKSV vetting form template showed three tick boxes—green, amber, and red—used by officials to indicate their clearance recommendation. However, the second batch of documents published on Thursday did not include Mandelson's completed vetting form nor a nine-page document summarizing his vetting.
What Was Mandelson's Response to Due Diligence Questions?
The initial tranche of documents published in March included a blank template sent to Mandelson for a declaration of interests, but the second set of papers did not provide further details. The completed declaration of interest form, which would include conflict of interest details and any agreed actions to address them, was also not present.
What Did Mandelson Say About His Relationship with Epstein?
Sir Keir Starmer has previously accused Lord Mandelson of not fully disclosing the extent of his relationship with Epstein prior to his appointment. It was known that during due diligence checks, McSweeney asked Mandelson three follow-up questions about his relationship with the late financier.
However, Mandelson's answers to these questions have not been disclosed in the documents released on Thursday. According to McSweeney, these documents are among materials withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police, who are investigating Mandelson over allegations of misconduct in public office. Lord Mandelson denies any wrongdoing.
The BBC understands that Mandelson maintains he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein accurately during the vetting process.
Why Was Mandelson Concerned About Chagos?
Messages between Lord Mandelson and Lord Matthew Doyle, then-chief of communications at No 10, reveal Mandelson's concerns about the UK's agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The deal would have involved the UK ceding sovereignty to Mauritius and paying an average of £101 million ($136 million) annually to lease back a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the archipelago's largest island.
The agreement, signed last year, has since been shelved by the UK after the US failed to formally confirm its approval earlier this year.
On 18 January 2025, two days before President Trump's inauguration, Mandelson discussed US-UK relations with Lord Doyle. During the conversation, amid concerns that Trump might reject Mandelson due to his EU ties, Mandelson stated:
"I am getting very worried about Chagos"
The following five messages in the conversation are redacted before the discussion resumes regarding reports on UK-US relations.
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