- Senior government figures are preparing to hand over their electronic communications with Lord Mandelson ahead of the release of evidence about his appointment as US ambassador
- It comes after Keir Starmer apologised to Jeffrey Epstein's victims and said he was "sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies"
- He has accused Mandelson of lying during the vetting process before his appointment as US ambassador in 2024, saying he gave the impression he "barely knew" the disgraced financier
- The BBC understands Mandelson's view is that he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein in the vetting process accurately
- Some Labour MPs have suggested Starmer should consider his position as PM, with others calling for his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney to leave No 10
The three questions Starmer asked Mandelson during the vetting process
Brian Wheeler
Political reporter
Keir Starmer says Peter Mandelson lied to him about the extent of his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Back in September, the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg revealed that Mandelson had been asked by the prime minister about why he had continued his friendship with Epstein after his conviction for soliciting sex with a minor.
As part of the vetting process for Mandelson’s appointment, Sir Keir asked Mandelson to address three specific questions, which were sent to him via email by the PM’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.
The three questions were:
- Why has he continued contact with Epstein after he was convicted?
- Why was he reported to have stayed in one of Epstein's homes while the financier was in prison?
- And was he associated with a charity founded by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell that the financier had backed?
The answers Mandelson gave to these questions are now likely to be published by the government, and ministers believe they will show that Mandelson lied.
The BBC understands Mandelson’s view is that he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein in the vetting process accurately. You can read more about the process here.
Home Office minister stands by Starmer as PM as he's 'owning mistakes'
Government minister Mike Tapp sits against the backdrop of Parliament and Big Ben while talking to BBC Breakfast
Home Office minister Mike Tapp is asked on BBC Breakfast where he stands in terms of support for Starmer as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party.
Although he doesn't directly answer the question, Tapp says: "This is obviously really difficult and what I am very pleased to see is that the prime minster has clearly apologised to the victims and apologised for appointing Mandelson and believing his clear lies.
"I am here on behalf of the government today and I want to extend that apology too."
Tapp is pressed again whether Starmer should be prime minister in light of what has happened. "I do, absolutely," replies Tapp.
He says that the PM has apologised for believing Peter Mandelson’s lies, adding that "transparency is very important and that’s what we are seeing from this government, that’s owning the mistakes".
It could take months for all Mandelson messages to be released
Harry Farley,
Political correspondent
There is real frustration among people I speak to in government that the Metropolitan Police is asking them not to release the documents around Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
The argument we're hearing from the prime minister and other ministers is that Mandelson lied during that process about the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And they insist these documents will prove that is right.
But Scotland Yard has asked that some documents are not released. Detectives worry they might prejudice their criminal investigation into whether Mandelson committed misconduct in public office by leaking sensitive information to Epstein.
But the so-called Mandelson files that the government must release go much wider than just that around his appointment. They include all "electronic communications" (so WhatsApp messages, emails etc.) between Mandelson and government ministers, officials and special advisers during his time as ambassador.
That is a huge amount of information. It has the potential to be embarrassing for people in government previously close to Mandelson, including the health secretary and possible successor to Starmer, Wes Streeting. All of that information is likely to take several months to discover, and eventually publish.
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