Two properties linked to Peter Mandelson in Wiltshire and north London have been searched as part of a Metropolitan Police inquiry into alleged misconduct in public office, the force said.
The investigation was opened after documents released by the US Department of Justice prompted claims that the former Labour minister passed market-sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Metropolitan Police said Mandelson had not been arrested and that enquiries were ongoing.
The BBC understands Lord Mandelson, 72, was at his Camden address when officers began the search. Police were seen briefly searching a car outside the property before carrying several boxes out of the building. At the Wiltshire address, officers entered without force, removing unfolded archive boxes and investigating outhouses.
Lord Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment. The BBC understands his position is that he did not act criminally and was not motivated by financial gain. He has previously expressed regret for his association with Epstein and apologised “unequivocally to the women and the girls who suffered”.
The allegations relate to emails and other communications from 2008 included in the US document release. Those appear to show Mandelson, then business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government, discussing Treasury plans for a one-off tax on bankers’ bonuses with Epstein. Two days after their email exchange about the bonus policy, further communications are said to have taken place. An email from Epstein asked whether “jamie” should call then-Chancellor Alistair Darling “one more time”, a likely reference to Jamie Dimon, then chief executive of JP Morgan. Mandelson appears to have replied that Dimon should call again and suggested he should “mildly threaten” the chancellor. Other messages indicate Mandelson gave Epstein advance notice of a proposed €500bn EU bailout to save the euro; the UK did not contribute to that bailout, though Mr Darling was in Brussels for negotiations.
A UK government spokesperson said it stood ready to provide any assistance the police needed. Misconduct in public office is an offence that typically applies to public servants and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
In response to the revelations and pressure from MPs, Downing Street said it would release documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US. The BBC has been told the material could include close to 100,000 electronic records. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned in a letter to the Intelligence and Security Committee that a “very significant volume of material” will need reviewing but said making the documents available to Parliament was important. Publication may be delayed after the government sought to withhold some material on national security grounds and the Metropolitan Police requested reductions to avoid interfering with its criminal inquiry.
Sir Keir has apologised to Epstein’s victims, saying he was “sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies”. Former prime minister Gordon Brown said he “greatly regrets” appointing Mandelson and took personal responsibility, saying he had been told Mandelson’s record was “unblemished” and there were no reports linking him to Epstein.
Labour MPs have expressed anger both at Mandelson’s alleged actions and at the prime minister’s decision to appoint him ambassador. Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said Sir Keir had handled the situation “appallingly” and should “consider resigning”. Brian Leishman, MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, described the appointment as an “incredible misjudgement”. Stroud MP Simon Opher suggested the prime minister needed to change his advisers, naming chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who was close to Mandelson.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir’s position was “untenable” and called for a vote of no confidence. On Sunday, Lord Mandelson quit the Labour Party and three days later retired from the House of Lords.
