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
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.
Kemi Badenoch: ‘This is not about national security – this is about job security’
Kemi Badenoch has dismissed Keir Starmer’s attempts to restrict the release of some documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment.
The Conservative leader told the Commons, ‘this is not about national security – this is about job security.’
She then challenges Starmer to ask the Intelligence and Security Committee to decide which documents should be released.
In his response, Starmer insisted the release of files will ‘not be a political process’ but led by the Cabinet Secretary and legal officials.
He added he hoped MPs would understand the ‘sensitivity’ of information about security, intelligence and trade relations.
Watch: Badenoch accuses Starmer of trying to sabotage release of Mandelson files
Watch the moment Kemi Badenoch accused Keir Starmer of trying to sabotage the release of documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
Badenoch urges Labour MPs to vote for all documents to be released
Kemi Badenoch has urged Labour MPs to vote in favour of releasing all documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment, ‘not just the ones the Prime Minister wants us to see’.
In the Commons, she said the Government was trying to ‘sabotage’ the release by placing an exception on information deemed to impact national security.
Badenoch said:
How can he stand up there saying that he knew, but he just asked Peter Mandelson if the security vetting was true or false? This is a man who had been sacked from Cabinet twice already for unethical behaviour.
That is absolutely shocking, and that is why later today, my party will call on the Government to release all documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment. Not just the ones the Prime Minister wants us to see.
Badenoch asked Starmer if he can guarantee MPs who vote to release all documents will not lose the whip.
Starmer repeated the exemptions will be in place for documents which could impact national security and a police investigation into Mandelson.
