Keir Starmer is facing a crunch vote in the Commons this afternoon as he tries to restrict the release of some documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador on the grounds of national security.
The Prime Minister is hopeful a Labour amendment laid down in response to the Conservatives’ ‘humble address’ will pass, meaning some information can be kept from public view if it impacts security or a criminal investigation into Mandelson.
The vote will be held after a bruising Prime Minister’s Questions for Starmer who declared Mandelson ‘lied repeatedly’ and ‘betrayed our country’ as he was skewered over his ambassadorial appointment following new disclosures in the Epstein files.
The Prime Minister admitted he was aware of the ongoing relationship between Mandelson and Epstein at the time the peer was dispatched to Washington in December 2024 but was not aware of the ‘depth’ of their ties.
During PMQs, he claimed Mandelson ‘lied repeatedly’ during security vetting and ‘misrepresented’ his relationship with the paedophile financier.
It comes as new emails appear to show Mandelson leaked sensitive information to Epstein while serving in Gordon Brown’s government in 2009.
Starmer also told the Commons he would publish documents relating to the appointment ahead of a ‘humble address’ tabled by the Conservativesbut has laid down an amendment to restrict information which may impact national security or a police investigation.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the Government’s amendment is ‘not about national security – this is about job security’ as she accused Starmer of trying to ‘sabotage’ the release of documents.
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Follow the latest updates on the Epstein files
Labour MPs ramp up pressure on Starmer over Mandelson files
Labour MPs are putting pressure on the Government to allow a parliamentary committee to examine sensitive files related to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States.
Angela Rayner is among backbench MPs who suggested the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) oversight could have a role ‘in keeping public confidence’ in the scrutiny process.
The Conservatives have used a Commons motion to demand the release of ‘all papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment’ as London’s ambassador in Washington.
These papers could include documents about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, alongside vetting material.
Here’s what Labour MPs have said in the Commons this afternoon
I will vote against the Government’s amendment today that tries to exclude papers from the inquiry into Mandelson on the grounds ‘prejudicial to international relations’. This is so wide that it opens up the Prime Minister to allegations of collusion in a cover-up.
Across the House there is a consensus growing that the Intelligence and Security Committee could provide a way forward for independent scrutiny of those documents.
Should we not have the ISC not have the same role now in keeping public confidence in the process?
There are well worn filters through Parliament, through the select committee corridor – and there are various committees that could have locus in this space – to properly and sensitively handle information which has, in my time, never leaked from a committee, in order to make sure that we on the committee corridor, on behalf of Parliament, are holding the Government to account.
Because I think there is consensus that everybody wants as much information as possible in the public domain, so that we can get to the bottom of what has happened in this egregious situation.
Government enters panic mode as it faces losing vote on Mandelson files
The Daily Mail’s Political Editor Jason Groves is reporting the Government is in a ‘flat panic’ amid fears it could lose the vote on releasing the Mandelson files.
The Government tabled an amendment to a ‘humble address’ laid down by the Conservatives that information that may impact national security or a police investigation cannot be put out in the public domain.
But a seemingly growing number of Labour MPs are calling for Parliament to decide which documents should and should not be released instead of the Cabinet Secretary.
It is understood the Government may be forced to amend its own amendment in the wake of the backlash.
‘Starmer’s position is untenable’: Mail readers react after PM’s Mandelson grilling
Mail readers have been getting in touch on what is proving to be another difficult day for Keir Starmer’s premiership.
Many say his job is at risk after he was questioned yet again on why he appointed Lord Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador despite his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The PM maintains Mandelson ‘repeatedly lied’ during security vetting yet he was aware of the pair’s ongoing relationship.
Let’s see what some of you had to say:
Stammer knew he was associated with Epstein. He should have had higher, stricter vetting before he put Mandelson in this position. Another big mistake by Stammer, how many mistakes and u-turns is he going to make before this country can get rid of him????
Starmer is weak! Mandelson just ran circles around him. This Labour Government is a shambles but more importantly, a big worry for us all.
This is not a trivial matter, it is a national security issue. The vetting process will have looked at his personal life, as well as his financial dealings so WHO ignored those findings? This issue spans the whole time from Blair, Brown & Starmer – they ignored the elephant in the room – WHY?
Starmer was warned by the security services that he should not appoint Mandelson. Why would our Prime Minister ignore the warnings of the security services. It is obvious that Starmer is compromised and his position is untenable. He must resign.
If he did you employed him in that role so your incompetence put national security at risk. Therefore the buck stops with you. Be a man and resign.
Angela Rayner leads Epstein ‘cover-up’ revolt against Starmer
by James Tapsfield
Keir Starmer’s crisis escalated today as Angela Rayner put herself at the head of a Labour revolt on the Mandelson ‘cover-up’.
The former deputy PM was among MPs demanding that Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee oversees what material is released about the vetting process before Mandelson was appointed US ambassador.
The intervention came after a bruising PMQs where Sir Keir said the ex-Cabinet minister had ‘betrayed’ the country, and would be legally stripped of his ‘Lord’ title and kicked out of the privy council.
The involvement of Ms Rayner will cause panic in Downing Street, as she is regarded as ‘on manoeuvres’ for the leadership.
There are claims she has secured a £1million warchest for a bid to succeed Sir Keir should the opportunity arise.
Downing Street suggests Government did not ask to see Epstein files before Mandelson’s appointment
The Government did not ask the US Department of Justice to see the so-called Epstein files before Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador in Washington, Downing Street appeared to suggest.
No 10 dodged repeated questions on whether a request was made to view documents related to the peer before their publication, given his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was known.
Pressed on whether that represented a failure of effort on the Government’s part, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: ‘I don’t accept that.’
The official pointed to the Prime Minister’s remarks that the information that emerged in September and in recent days – revealing the extent of the Labour grandee’s ties to Epstein – was materially different to what was known at the time of Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
‘Humble address’ vote expected this afternoon
MPs are now debating on whether all papers relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador should be released.
The ‘humble address’ was tabled by the Conservatives last night while the Government has added an amendment to restrict information which it says could impact national security or a police investigation.
We are expecting a vote to be held around 4pm.
Some Labour MPs have already indicated they will vote against the Government amid fears it could expose the Prime Minister to allegations of ‘collusion’.
Mandelson appears to describe Epstein jail release as ‘Liberation day’ in emails
Peter Mandelson celebrated child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s release from jail as ‘Liberation day’ and exchanged sleazy jokes with him, messages appear to show as revelations about the two men’s links continue to drip out.
The latest document dump by US authorities from the so-called Epstein files has piled further pressure on Lord Mandelson, who is facing a criminal investigation and has quit the House of Lords.
One email thread from July 2009 apparently shows the then-government minister asking Epstein how they should celebrate his release from prison after serving 13 months for soliciting prostitution with a minor.
Epstein responded: ‘With grace and modesty ( those are the names of two strippers ).’
Lord Mandelson said: ‘From now on, grace and modesty sd (should) be discovered in London.’
The emails can be traced to him because his BT Internet email address was left unredacted in one of the messages, and his name is in another.
Labour MP vows to rebel against Starmer to avoid Epstein ‘cover-up’
Labour MP John McDonnell said he will rebel on Sir Keir Starmer’s amendment to the motion demanding the release of papers on Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment, arguing that it could lead to a cover-up.
The former shadow chancellor said:
I will vote against the Government’s amendment today that tries to exclude papers from the inquiry into Mandelson on the grounds ‘prejudicial to international relations’.
This is so wide that it opens up the Prime Minister to allegations of collusion in a cover-up.
Tory MP calls for Mandelson to be examined over links to alleged paedophile
A Conservative former minister has called for Lord Peter Mandelson’s relationship with another alleged paedophile to be examined.
In a point of order in the Commons, former Brexit secretary, Sir David Davis said:
Today’s debate will focus on Mandelson and his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. However, it will not cover his relationship with another alleged paedophile, murderer, gangster, specialist in bribery and corruption, and Putin favourite, Oleg Deripaska – a relationship that may be just as bad as that with Epstein.
As European Trade Commissioner, Mandelson made decisions favouring Deripaska’s company by 200 million dollars a year. Mandelson avoided proper investigation by lying about his timing of his relationship with Deripaska.
He questioned how the House could find out what investigations were carried out by Gordon Brown’s government when he was appointed as a minister.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said there was a debate later on Wednesday in which Sir David may wish to raise the issue.
Key lines from PMQs as Starmer claims Mandelson ‘lied repeatedly’
Well it looked like an uncomfortable day for Keir Starmer before he headed to the Commons and he’s just endured a bruising encounter at the despatch box.
The Prime Minister tried to get on the front foot by declaring his anger towards Lord Mandelson but he was repeatedly asked on what he knew at the time of his appointment as US ambassador in December 2024.
In case you missed PMQs, here are the key lines:
- Starmer claimed Lord Peter Mandelson ‘betrayed our country’ by leaking to Jeffrey Epstein and had ‘lied repeatedly’ during the appointment process to the US ambassador job
- The Prime Minister said he was ware of Lord Peter Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed him but did not know the ‘depth’ of their association
- Starmer said he ‘of course’ he has confidence in Morgan McSweeney after he was asked by Kemi Badenoch whether he was still backing his chief of staff.
- The Prime Minister said he would publish documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment but wanted to restrict information which could impact national security or a police investigation into the disgraced peer.
- Kemi Badenoch said this is ‘not about national security – this is about job security’ as she urged Labour MPs to vote for the release of all documents in a ‘humble address’ tabled by the Conservatives
Top story: Starmer says Mandelson ‘lied repeatedly’ and he will be stripped of title
Here’s the top story on the Daily Mail website following a tense PMQs for the Prime Minister
by James Tapsfield
Keir Starmer is facing a Labour revolt on the Mandelson ‘cover-up’ today as he insisted not all vetting documents can be revealed.
At a bruising PMQs, Sir Keir said the former Cabinet minister had ‘betrayed’ the country, and would be legally stripped of his ‘Lord’ title and kicked out of the privy council.
He said Mandelson had ‘lied throughout the process’ of his appointment as US ambassador, and pledged to publish details.
But Sir Keir admitted that he had known when installing Mandelson in the crucial role that his relationship with Epstein continued after the financier’s initial conviction for sex offences.
And he stressed that some information would have to be withheld for ‘national security’ and ‘international relations’ reasons. He added that the police had asked that anything that would prejudice their investigation be held back.
