Downing Street has denied leaving key details out of government files relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US, as Sir Keir Starmer admits “it was me that made the mistake”.
Speaking to reporters, the prime minister said that “it’s me that makes the apology to the victims of Epstein” after the release of documents on Wednesday caused further scrutiny that the government had been aware of Lord Mandelson’s friendship with the convicted paedophile.
Sir Keir’s official spokesman said there was no “cover up” after a comment box in the due diligence report reserved for his response was left blank.
The prime minister did not write any notes on the document, therefore nothing was redacted, it is understood.
A government minister has called for Lord Mandelson to hand his £75,000 Washington role payout to charity, saying he shares the "moral outrage" over the severance package.
Documents revealed that the Labour peer had initially requested more than £500,000 when he was sacked from the Washington role, but this was negotiated down.
The files also revealed Sir Keir was warned there was a “general reputational risk” in appointing Lord Mandleson, due to his association with the disgraced financier.
The prime minister has insisted Lord Mandelson “lied repeatedly” to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein.
Key Points
- No10 denies 'cover up' of key details in Mandelson files
- Mandelson should give his £75,000 payout to charity, minister says
- Starmer to face questions over Lord Mandelson appointment
- Vetting process wasn't fully complete by the time Mandelson became ambassador, minister says
- All the key takeaways from bombshell documents
Keir Starmer admits he 'made a mistake' in appointing Peter Mandelson
15:09 , Holly EvansTreasury to work with NI Executive on heating oil support, Starmer says
14:55 , Holly EvansThe Treasury will “co-ordinate” with the Northern Ireland Executive on home heating oil support, the Prime Minister has said.
Sir Keir Starmer said he is determined to “clamp down” on people “getting ripped off” on their energy bills after his meeting with party leaders in Belfast, where there was cross-party and cross-community consensus on the call for more help.
He went on to visit the Atlas Women’s Centre Lisburn before travelling to Co Cork to meet Irish premier Micheal Martin at a summit of senior British and Irish ministers.
Following US and Israeli strikes, Iran has warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to the price of heating oil doubling in the past week.
Rising bills is a particularly acute problem in Northern Ireland, where 62.5 per cent of homes rely on the fuel, compared with the UK average of just over 5 per cent.
Speaking to reporters in Lisburn, Sir Keir said the Government needs to “react as quickly and as appropriately as possible in relation to this”.
Starmer says he will work with allies to 'de-escalate' war in Middle East
14:39 , Holly EvansPrime minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he will work to “de-escalate” the war in the Middle East.
It comes as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to avenge “martyrs” killed in the conflict in his first statement since his appointment.
The prime minister told reporters in Northern Ireland: “My role is to work with other international leaders to try to de-escalate the situation.”
Sir Keir said he will also co-ordinate with other leaders on the supply of oil.
He added: “That’s what we’re doing 24/7… talking to allies, talking to those in the region which I have been doing continually.”
In full: Starmer's latest comments as he admits 'mistake' over Mandelson
14:30 , Holly EvansIn his first public appearance since the publication of the documents, Sir Keir told reporters in Northern Ireland: “The release of the information shows what was known.
“That led to further questions being asked.
“Unfortunately, because of the Metropolitan Police investigation, we can’t release that information yet.
“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that it was me that made a mistake, and it’s me that makes the apology to the victims of Epstein, and I do that.”
The absence of Sir Keir’s comments in the trove of Government papers released on Wednesday has come under the spotlight, sparking questions over whether he followed procedures.
Labour MPs are furious about the Mandelson files revelations – but they won’t move against Starmer for now
14:19 , Holly EvansThe language of Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds this morning was not the most fulsome defence of his boss, the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Like Sir Keir, Mr Thomas-Symonds is a lawyer by training and instead of issuing a defence of the PM, he essentially repeated a third person summary of what Sir Keir had said without actually expressing his own thoughts.
He noted: “The prime minister said he made a mistake in appointing Lord Mandelson. Most importantly, the prime minister has apologised about this decision to Jeffrey Epstein's victims, who have to be re-traumatised and go through the memory of their terrible experiences every time we have a public debate around this.”
Read the full analysis from our political editor David Maddox here:
Labour MPs are furious about Mandelson files but won’t move against Starmer for now
'Traitor' Mandelson should return severance pay, Sarwar says
14:09 , Holly EvansScottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said Lord Peter Mandelson should return his severance payment.
When asked by journalists at the Scottish Parliament if Lord Mandelson should return the payment, Mr Sarwar said: “Absolutely, I mean this is a man who has proven to be a traitor to his country.
“He’s proven to be a traitor to many of his former colleagues, although that’s of less importance, he’s someone that should never have been considered or appointed as ambassador and he should do the right thing and return the money that he got as a payment.”
Analysis: The slow release of documents has bought the struggling prime minister time
13:59 , Holly EvansOur political correspondent Millie Cooke writes...
The revelations in the first tranche of documents - most significantly that the PM was clearly warned about Mandelson's links with Epstein - are damning for the prime minister.
They raise massive questions about his judgement and they suggest that he ignored warnings from senior officials.
But so far, it appears that momentum on calls for him to resign have not gathered steam in the way that they have done previously when the beleaguered PM is faced with a difficult week.
Partly, its because many MPs are waiting until after the local elections before they try and defenestrate him. But also, its because of the fact that many of the files relating to Mandelson's appointment have been held back as a result of the Met Police investigation.
This has bought him time.
Taking questions from reporters today, the prime minister's official spokesperson was able to repeatedly refer vaguely to files that none of us have yet seen.
He was able to skirt around questions so as not to compromise the police investigation.
And, most importantly, he was able to offer up the distant possibility that the next batch of files might clear the prime minister of all wrongdoing when it comes to the appointment of the disgraced peer. Whether or not this will actually turn out to be true, remains to be seen.
Legislation to strip Mandelson title could be applied to any peer
13:51 , Holly EvansLegislation to strip Lord Peter Mandelson of his title could be broadened out to include any peer who has broken the rules, Downing Street has said.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters: “The prime minister has asked officials to draft legislation which allows Peter Mandelson’s peerage to be removed as quickly as possible.
“The Government’s preference is to bring forward legislation that could be applied to any peer who has breached the rules and brought the other place into disrepute, rather than Mandelson specifically.
“We have begun the work of looking at the scope and ability for such a Bill to be introduced.
“But a Bill of that nature has not been brought before Parliament since 1478, so we are working on that, and we are liaising with the House authorities to ensure that we get this right.”
Starmer says he made a 'mistake' appointing Mandelson and apologises to victims
13:43 , Holly EvansPrime minister Sir Keir Starmer told reporters in Northern Ireland that “it was me that made the mistake” in appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador “and it’s me that makes the apology to the victims of Epstein”.
Starmer forced to deny allegations of 'boys club' at the top of government
13:38 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer has been forced to deny allegations of a "boys club" at the top of government after he decided to sideline former US ambassador Karen Pierce for Peter Mandelson.
His official spokesperson pointed to "a list of very senior female advisers who occupy some of the most senior positions in No 10", adding that claims of a "boys club" are "just factually untrue".
Pressed on the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson, he said: "I think the Prime Minister has dealt with this head on and has apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson."
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No10 denies 'cover up' of key details in Mandelson files
13:31 , Millie CookeDowning Street has denied that there was a "cover up" after a comment box in the due diligence report reserved for his response was left blank in the first set of government documents published on Wednesday surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson.
Sir Keir did not write any notes on the document, known as a 'box note', therefore nothing was redacted, it is understood.
Questions remain over why the PM did not write any notes on the document, as convention dictates that ministers generally respond to the memos submitted to them.
Asked why he chose not to respond, Sir Keir's spokesperson said: “There are a range of different ways in which the prime minister’s senior team responds to advice.
“The prime minister did read the advice, but clearly there are lessons to be learned on the wider appointment processes, and the processes that led up to them.”
He added: “I refute the suggestion of a cover up. The government’s complied fully. I just don’t accept that it’s the case at all."
People getting 'ripped off' by oil prices, Starmer says
13:16 , Holly EvansPeople are “getting ripped off” over the price of oil to heat their homes, the prime minister has said.
Speaking in Belfast, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I’ve asked the Treasury minister to talk to the (Northern Ireland) Executive here about oil-based heating in homes, and how we can co-ordinate our response to this because of the prices increasing because of Iran, and get our arms around that.
“The other thing I’m worried about is that some people are getting ripped off in the costs of the oil to heat their houses, and we’ve got to bear down on any ripping off at all.
“We’ll do all that we can in relation to this. I am acutely aware that this is the single most important issue for many people across Northern Ireland.”
'Starmer not fit to be PM,' Reform UK deputy leader says
13:10 , Holly EvansReform UK’s deputy leader has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer is “not fit to be PM”.
On social media, Richard Tice said: “Mandelson files show Starmer is not fit to be PM Why did Starmer overrule clear warnings? Why has Starmer approved £75,000 payoff? Disgraced former peer should receive nothing Labour is profligate with your money.”
Mandelson files show Starmer is not fit to be PM
— Richard Tice MP 🇬🇧 (@TiceRichard) March 12, 2026
Why did Starmer overrule clear warnings?
Why has Starmer approved £75,000 payoff? Disgraced former peer should receive nothing
Labour is profligate with your money
https://t.co/EoxXYVvTiL
Timeline of Peter Mandelson’s controversial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
12:50 , Holly EvansThe government has published the first set of documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States on Wednesday, less than two months after emails between the statesman and Jeffrey Epstein were brought to light.
In February, MPs ordered the government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to the disgraced financier.
The prime minister has insisted Lord Mandelson “lied repeatedly” to No 10 about his relationship with Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador.
Read the full article here:
Timeline of Lord Mandelson’s controversial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
Peter Mandelson’s £75,000 payout after sacking was ‘value for money’
12:30 , Holly EvansThe £75,000 taxpayer-funded payout Lord Peter Mandelson received after being sacked as ambassador to Washington was “value for money”, a minister has argued.
The sum awarded to the disgraced peer after his dismissal over his ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was revealed in the first set of Government documents published on Wednesday.
Nick Thomas-Symonds expressed “moral outrage” over the payment, and called for the money to be donated to a victims’ charity.
Read the full article here:
Peter Mandelson’s £75,000 payout after sacking was ‘value for money’ – minister
What was revealed in the Mandelson files?
12:10 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer’s judgement is under renewed attack after newly released papers revealed he was warned in detail about the dangers of appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
The files make clear that Sir Keir ignored the warnings after his then-chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and former director of communications, Matthew Doyle, who was described in the documents as a “personal friend” of Lord Mandelson, appeared to give support to the Labour peer.
The files also revealed that Lord Mandelson was given a taxpayer-funded £75,000 payout after he was sacked in September as the government sought to avoid a protracted legal challenge – but had first demanded more than £500,000.
They also revealed:
- Sir Keir was told that Lord Mandelson “reportedly stayed at Epstein’s house when he was in jail” and they were in touch when he was business secretary
- The PM was warned over Lord Mandelson’s China links and business interests as part of a “due diligence” document drawn up by the Cabinet Office in December 2024
- National security adviser (NSA) Jonathan Powell found the appointment “weirdly rushed” while Sir Philip Barton, the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office (FCDO), also objected
- Lord Mandelson arranged a meeting between Epstein and Sir Tony Blair in 2002, saying the financier was “young and vibrant” and “safe”
Starmer needs to 'come up with an answer' on high fuel costs, Northern Irish minister says
11:48 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer’s visit to Northern Ireland has “raised expectations” that he will act on the high cost of fuel, the Sinn Fein leader has said.
Mary Lou McDonald said the cost of living was the main topic discussed during a “very forthright” meeting with Sir Keir in Belfast on Thursday.
He was meeting with the political leaders at Stormont before attending the UK-Ireland Summit in Cork, along with several senior ministers from his Cabinet.
The meeting comes as Sir Keir faces renewed questioning over making Lord Peter Mandelson the UK’s Washington ambassador after a release of official documents revealed he had been warned of a “general reputational risk” over the appointment.
It also comes as governments are coming under pressure over a spike in the cost of fuel and home heating oil after the US and Israel began bombing Iran over a week ago.
Ms McDonald said in Belfast: “We’ve challenged the Prime Minister now to make an announcement, to come up with something that will actually make a difference to households right across the north that are struggling so badly and who, thus far, have not seen any kind of an adequate response from London, from the Prime Minister or from the Treasury.”
She added: “Keir Starmer has come to Ireland, to Belfast, to Cork.
“He has framed his visit in respect of cost-of-living pressures, and specifically the price gouging, but also the runaway cost of home heating oil, and he needs to come up with an answer for families all across the north.
“I fully expect, and we’ve made this plain to him, that he will have something constructive and meaningful to say in that regard when he comes and speaks to the press.”
Ministers ‘want to put the boot in’ to Mandelson but have to be restrained
11:37 , David MaddoxA government source has told The Independent that ministers are feeling “frustrated” with the Peter Mandelson affair because “they really want to put the boot in”.
But they note that Lord Mandelson’s lawyers are looking for a reason to suggest he cannot get a fair trial should the issues he is currently being investigated for by the police see him face prosecution.
Ministers are understood to be “beyond angry” at the situation but want to ensure that the former Labour peer can face justice if matters come to a trial.
Mandelson pay off ‘broke value for money rules’, claims MP
11:29 , Holly EvansOur political editor David Maddox writes...
Tory MP Dr Kieran Mullan has claimed that the £75,000 given as severance payment to Peter Mandelson for being sacked as ambassador to the US “is a breach of the Ministerial Code” because it broke government value for money rules.
In a post on X he quotes the ministerial rule A4.13.15: “Departments shall not treat special severance as a soft option, for example to avoid, management action, disciplinary processes, unwelcome publicity or reputational damage.”
Dr Mullan noted: “But that is exactly what Number 10, the then Foreign Secretary and now DPM and Treasury agreed to do use the money for.”
The papers show that ministers agreed to sign off the payment because it would be lower than the cost of fighting an industrial tribunal.
The Tory MP now wants an investigation by the ethics advisor Sir Laurie Magnus and the name of the minister who signed it off.
Jess Phillips: 'I have never worked with a male politician who is as big an ally as Keir Starmer'
11:23 , Holly EvansSafeguarding minister Jess Phillips has launched a fierce defence of the prime minister, saying she has "never worked with a male politician who is as big an ally as Keir Starmer".
Asked about the revelations in the first release of the Mandelson files yesterday, she told Good Morning Britain: "I will hold him to account the same way I will hold anyone to account. And so what we have to see now, in light of this, is the man I know, and have known for many years, pushing on every single lever to make progress with violence against women and girls."
Asked whether he will still be in post beyond the May local elections, a deadline which many have speculated could see the prime minister resign, Ms Phillips said: "I imagine, yeah."
She added: "I have never, ever worked with a male politician who is as big an ally and has helped me move the the tides of power on violence against women and girls more than Keir Starmer.
"That doesn't negate this issue. And I think that he's right to say he made a terrible mistake.
"But look, I find he's considerably better than any other prime minister I've ever worked with. Even ones who are famed for being brilliant at this won't have moved the dial as much as Keir Starmer's government has on violence against women and girls."
Labour backbenchers losing patience with Starmer over Mandelson scandal
11:14 , David MaddoxNadia Whittome, the MP for Nottingham East, has become the latest Labour backbencher to vent her anger over Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.
Following the publication of papers relating to the appointment, she has made it clear that she does not accept his explanation that he did not know the full extent of Mandelson’s relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
She said: “Everything coming out of the Mandelson files confirms that his links to Epstein were known to all, and that appointing him showed both terrible judgment and a disregard for due process.
“Victims of child sexual abuse deserve our moral consistency. How did the prime minister think Mandelson’s appointment would make them feel? Factional politics took priority above everything else, and that is disgraceful.”
Watch: The Mandelson files - What we know now
11:11 , Holly EvansTory leader says 'something very dodgy' happened in severance payout
11:02 , Holly EvansLord Peter Mandelson should not have received a severance payout after his sacking from the Washington job, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Tory leader told broadcasters during a visit to Wembley: “The Prime Minister told the country that Peter Mandelson had lied to him, that he’d lied to him throughout the appointment.
“If someone has been dishonest and lied, you don’t give them a severance payment. So something very dodgy has happened.”
Ms Badenoch also said that “in any normal circumstances the Prime Minister would be resigning” after “he’s been shown to have lied to the Commons” and displayed a “complete lack of judgment”.
Asked whether Labour MPs were coming to her to try to stage a vote of no confidence in Sir Keir Starmer, Ms Badenoch said: “That’s a discussion that a few of them have had with the whips.”
'There is still a cover up going on,' Kemi Badenoch says
10:46 , Holly EvansKey details were missing in Government files relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US, Kemi Badenoch has said.
During a visit to Flannery Plant Hire in Wembley, north London, the Tory leader told the Press Association: “A lot of information is missing.
“I’ve been a minister and a secretary of state, the comments which Keir Starmer would have put on the box notes – those are the cover notes where you explain what you want to happen – are missing.
“They have been removed. We need the full details of what the Prime Minister did. There is still a cover up going on.”
She also said: “I am astonished that the prime minister can actually look himself in the mirror right now. It is very clear that he told lie after lie after lie about the appointment of Peter Mandelson.
“He wanted to make this all about Peter Mandelson. This is about his judgments.
“He has been dishonest with Parliament and with the country. And Labour MPs, in good conscience, should be looking at whether or not this man should be leading our country.”
From Labour ‘Prince’ to Epstein shame: How Lord Mandelson fell from grace
10:31 , Holly EvansLord Peter Mandelson is set to face further scrutiny as the government releases it first tranche of documents into his appointment as US ambassador.
Cabinet minister Darren Jones said a “big number” of files will be released, revealing the vetting process and what was known about his friendship to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office as part of an investigation by Metropolitan Police after allegations he passed on market-sensitive information to disgraced financier Epstein while serving as business secretary.
Read the full article here:
From Labour ‘Prince’ to Epstein shame: How Lord Mandelson fell from grace
Tory minister says Starmer has shown 'utter failure of judgement'
10:13 , Holly EvansTory shadow Home Office minister Matt Vickers said Sir Keir “definitely should go” over the affair.
He told Sky News: “It is a complete and utter failure of judgment on the part of the prime minister.
“Remember when this thing broke, he told us that if he knew then what he knew now, he wouldn’t have made that appointment.
“Anybody reading those files knows he knew more than enough not to make this appointment. His own National Security Adviser warned him about it. He knew that the man who he chose to appoint this country’s most prestigious diplomatic position had links to the worst, most evil paedophile ever to walk the earth. It’s unacceptable.”
In pictures: Starmer meets with Northern Ireland first minister
10:01 , Holly Evans
Starmer must now give a full account of himself over Mandelson
09:46 , Holly EvansA general reputational risk” is how, with typical British understatement, the civil service described the potential pitfalls to Sir Keir Starmer when he was contemplating appointing his former friend Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
This “revelation” emerges from the first tranche of the Mandelson papers to be released – and, it is fair to say, it cannot have come as a shock to Sir Keir, or to anyone with even a passing acquaintanceship with Lord Mandelson over his long and eventful career in public life. Even the former minister’s fan club in the media conceded that he was a risky person to be entrusted with such a delicate role, whatever his formidable gifts and mastery of the “dark arts” of politics.
Read the full editorial here:
Starmer must now give a full account of himself over Mandelson
MPs to look at fairness of student loans system
09:28 , Holly EvansMPs will examine the fairness of student loans repayment in a new inquiry following increasing debate over the system.
The Treasury Committee is asking young people for their views on issues like whether they would still take out loans today and how their student loan repayments are impacting their finances.
Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier said loan interest rates and sometimes high marginal tax rates “have clearly led to widespread dissatisfaction among graduates who may not have fully understood their repayment terms and the possibility they could change”.
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She added: “This inquiry is about fairness. Fundamentally, what we’re asking is, have the goalposts been moved in a way which is unfair to graduates?”
Evidence must be submitted to the committee by Tuesday April 14. There will also be a survey for young people to contribute their experience directly.
Questions will include whether the interest on loans should be fixed to the Retail Prices Index (RPI), Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or another measure, and whether the terms of a loan should be able to be changed.
Starmer warns against profiteering as Trump vows to ‘finish the job’ in Iran
09:14 , Holly EvansPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Government will “step in” if companies exploit rising heating oil prices amid the Middle East conflict.
Prices have jumped after Iran launched retaliatory strikes following attacks by the US and Israel, pushing up energy costs and sending home heating oil bills soaring.
Ahead of a visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday, Sir Keir acknowledged that “global instability has real impacts on the lives of working people across the UK”.
He said: “Let me be clear, we will not tolerate profiteering or unfair practices.
“If companies fleece customers or rip them off, we will not hesitate to step in, and that includes on regulation.”
Home heating oil has jumped up to £100 in a week. The rise is hitting Northern Ireland particularly hard, where 62.5 per cent of homes rely on the fuel compared with the UK average of just over 5 per cent.
Heating oil customers are not covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap.
Minister insists Starmer 'has taken responsibility' for appointing Mandelson
08:58 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer "has taken responsibility" for appointing Peter Mandelson, a government minister has insisted, amid growing questions over why the prime minister ignored warnings over his links with Jeffrey Epstein.
"The prime minister has taken responsibility for this. The prime minister said he made a mistake in appointing Lord Mandelson. Most importantly, the prime minister has apologised about this decision to Jeffrey Epstein's victims, who have to be re-traumatised and go through the memory of their terrible experiences every time we have a public debate around this. So the prime minister has taken responsibility."
Pressed on what exactly it was that the prime minister has apologised for, Mr Thomas-Symonds told Sky News: "He has apologised for believing what was said to him."
‘Weirdly rushed’ is a verdict that will haunt Keir Starmer – a PM now in big trouble
08:45 , Holly EvansAmid the welter of material so far released by the government concerning Peter Mandelson becoming ambassador to Washington, one phrase leaps out.
It came from Jonathan Powell, Keir Starmer’s national security adviser (and adviser to Tony Blair for his entire time in No 10), who said he thought Mandelson’s appointment had been “weirdly rushed”.
In the files, the prime minister’s lawyer, Mike Ostheimer, following a call with Powell, wrote that the adviser had raised concerns “about the individual and reputation” to the then chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.
There are references to Mandelson subsequently seeking a payout of £547,000 after he was sacked over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – and, in the end, making do with £75,000. Much is being made of this, with calls for Mandelson to donate the money to charity. But it’s Powell’s remark that is vastly more significant.
Read the full analysis from Chris Blackhurst here:
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‘Weirdly rushed’ is a verdict that will haunt Keir Starmer – a PM now in big trouble
Messages between No10 and Mandelson yet to be released
08:40 , Holly EvansThe 31 files released by the Government on Wednesday did not include correspondence between No 10 and Lord Mandelson, in which a number of follow-up questions were asked about his relationship with Epstein.
MPs were told those exchanges remained subject to the Metropolitan Police’s ongoing investigation into the peer over allegations of misconduct in public office.
The prime minister has been dogged by questions over his judgment in making a political appointment to place Lord Mandelson in Washington, rather than giving the role to a career diplomat.
Mandelson should give his £75,000 payout to charity, minister says
08:23 , Holly EvansA government minister has called for Peter Mandelson to hand his £75,000 payout to charity, saying he shares the "moral outrage" over the severance package.
It comes after it was revealed that the disgraced peer had asked for more than £500,000 when he was sacked as ambassador.
A day after the sum was revealed in government files, Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News: “I frankly share the moral outrage that Peter Mandelson is still in possession of that £75,000.
“Now you can look at the documents, you can see on a value for money basis why that decision was made. There was an original request for £547,000 that was negotiated down to £75,000…
“But from a moral point of view, it is incredibly difficult to even think that that money is still being retained.
“So what I would say is, do the decent thing, do the honourable thing, donate that money to charity. And I would suggest perhaps a charity supporting victims might be appropriate.”
All the key takeaways from bombshell documents
08:10 , Holly EvansThe government has released the first batch of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, months after the disgraced politician was forced to step down from the role when the full extent of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was revealed.
The dossier, which shows that the prime minister was issued with clear warnings over Mandelson’s links with Epstein, will pile further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, who is facing growing questions over his judgement in appointing the Labour grandee to such a sensitive diplomatic role.
The revelations, published on the government's website as a nearly 150-page PDF, come after MPs ordered the government last month to release tens of thousands of documents relating to the 2024 appointment following questions over how the peer was vetted.
Read the full article here:
All the key takeaways from first release of the Mandelson files
'Of course' warnings about Peter Mandelson's Epstein links 'raised concerns', minister says
08:03 , Holly EvansA government minister has said that "of course" warnings about Peter Mandelson's links with Epstein issued in due diligence documents "raised concerns" for Sir Keir Starmer.
It comes after the release of the first trance of Mandelson files yesterday, which showed that the prime minister was explicitly warned about the former US ambassador's links with Epstein before he was apppointed.
Asked about the warnings, Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News: "Of course that raised concerns, it says in it about Peter Mandelson reportedly staying in Jeffrey Epstein's house at that time. There's a quote in there from Lord Mandelson's spokesperson about the nature of the relationship.
"That, of course, prompted questions, as you would expect it to do. And I'm sure any of your viewers who look at this document - and you can look at it quite openly - would also prompt serious questions.
"The prime minister then did order questions to be put to Lord Mandelson. He has said he was misled and he deeply regrets believing the reassurances he was given."
Vetting process wasn't fully complete by the time Mandelson became ambassador, minister says
08:00 , Millie CookeThe vetting process wasn't fully complete by the time Peter Mandelson took up his role as US ambassador, a minister has admitted, saying it is "hugely important" that lessons are learnt.
Speaking about plans to reform the vetting process for appointments, Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News: "I think you'll see in the documents that the processes weren't fully completed by the point at which the taking up the post of ambassador to Washington took place.
"We're saying first of all that this process has to be fully completed before people take up post. But there are also perfectly legitimate questions to be asked about that process.
"And absolutely we're saying that we shouldn't just be moving on from this - whether its in terms of vetting or indeed standards in public life. We're also looking at things around lobbying around transparency, financial disclosures of ministers."
He added: "It's hugely important that collectively we learn the lessons. That's exactly the work that the prime minister is leading."
Starmer to face questions over Lord Mandelson appointment
07:51 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer will face fresh questions about his decision to make Lord Mandelson US ambassador after it emerged he was warned of a “general reputational risk” before the appointment.
The Prime Minister is expected to speak to journalists during a visit to Belfast on Thursday following the release of files showing senior officials had concerns about the peer taking up the role in Washington.
The public appearance will be his first since the publication on Wednesday of the first tranche of papers relating to the peer released by the Government in response to a demand from MPs.
Following the release, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour MPs should consider whether Sir Keir is “fit to run our country” after being “dishonest with them, with the country, with Parliament, about what he knew.”
The Prime Minister has insisted Lord Mandelson “lied repeatedly” to Downing Street about his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, before and during his tenure as ambassador.
