Labour accused of ‘cover-up’ over Mandelson messages

• Labour has been accused of a “cover-up” after only 31 messages and documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador were released, all from official email addresses.
• Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, reportedly used private email and WhatsApp to communicate with Lord Mandelson ahead of his appointment, with none of these messages being published.
• Shadow Chancellor Alex Burghart has demanded the release of all relevant communications, including those from non-corporate devices, saying: “The stench of a cover-up over the Mandelson files is overwhelming.”
• Downing Street denied a cover-up, saying that there was “no requirement” for the prime minister to formally interview Lord Mandelson, but conceded “lessons to be learned” from the appointment process.
• Sir Keir is facing questions over his judgment, given Lord Mandelson's association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

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Starmer’s chief of staff ‘used personal email to communicate with Mandelson’ before appointment