Police have asked the UK government to delay publishing documents linked to Peter Mandelson over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, says a report.
Police have asked the UK government to delay publishing a key exchange in which Downing Street questioned Peter Mandelson about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, Politico reported citing people familiar with the matter.
Then chief of staff Morgan McSweeney emailed Mandelson with three questions about his relationship with Epstein before his appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the US in December 2024.
The correspondence, first reported by the BBC, asked why Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction and why he reportedly stayed at one of Epstein’s properties while the financier was in prison.
Police seek to withhold documents
The exchange is among several documents linked to Mandelson’s appointment that the Metropolitan Police has asked the government not to release for now, citing concerns that publication could undermine a separate criminal investigation into Mandelson, the sources said as cited in the report.
Although the criminal probe is separate from a broader cache of vetting documents and private messages from 2024 and 2025 awaiting release, Mandelson’s past conduct formed part of the appointment process. Met Police Commander Ella Marriott said on December 4 that officers had asked the government “not to release certain documents at this time”.
Political fallout and scrutiny
Keir Starmer has said Mandelson “repeatedly lied” to Downing Street about the extent of his association with Epstein, though documentation detailing what officials knew and when remains disputed between police and the government.
Starmer has faced scrutiny over appointing Mandelson despite awareness of his continued contact with Epstein after the conviction and has pledged transparency, a process now complicated by efforts to withhold key records.
The controversy has already led to McSweeney’s departure after he supported Mandelson’s appointment. Earlier this month, MPs voted to release documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, along with a wider trove of emails and messages between him and Labour ministers and advisers.
Investigation continues
While the full archive contains tens of thousands of documents, officials are prioritising those directly linked to Mandelson’s appointment. Of these, police have requested that a smaller subset be withheld while the investigation continues.
The Metropolitan Police are examining whether Mandelson committed misconduct in public office after a 2009 email exchange, disclosed in Epstein-related files, appeared to show him sharing details of government financial discussions with Epstein. Officers have not yet interviewed Mandelson, who denies any wrongdoing.
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