Epstein files LIVE: claims Mandelson ‘betrayed our country’

MPs and peers on the Intelligence and Security Committee are set to decide what documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador will be released after a climbdown by Keir Starmer.

The government has conceded it will not have the final decision on what material is released about the vetting process before Mandelson was appointed US ambassador.

Instead, the cross-party Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) is poised to rule on any documents regarded as potentially threatening ‘national security’ or ‘international relations’ – the loopholes initially mooted by Sir Keir.

The climbdown follows hours of negotiations in the Commons as ministers desperately tried to avert a huge defeat on a Tory motion.

The intervention of former deputy PM Ms Rayner in the House underlined the strength of feeling against the government.

As we await further developments from the Commons, we have a major exclusive involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

by Inderdeep Bains

A bombshell email confirms that the infamous photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with his arm around his chief accuser was genuine, it emerged today.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had long disputed the authenticity of the image of him in intimate contact with Virginia Giuffre when she was just 17.

And his suggestion that the damning 2001 image may have been faked was central to the defence he tried to put over in his disastrous Newsnight interview.

But today an email came to light from disgraced socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in which she said she was ‘stating for the record as fact’ that not only had she introduced the former Prince to Giuffre but that the image was taken at her London home that same night.

Her admission, unearthed by the Daily Mail, will come as a major blow to Andrew, leaving his controversial Pizza Express ‘alibi’ in tatters.

Lord Mandelson has officially retired from the House of Lords, it has been confirmed.

In making the announcement to the upper chamber at the start of Wednesday’s proceedings, the Lord Speaker Lord Forsyth of Drumlean pointedly did not thank the peer for his service to the House, as would ordinarily be customary for a departing member.

Before moving swiftly on to next business, Lord Forsyth said:

I announced in the chamber yesterday that Lord Mandelson had given notice of his retirement.

I am now formally notifying the House of his retirement with effect from today pursuant to section one of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.

A vote on whether to release all documents related to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the US ambassador could be as late as 7pm, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the Commons.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has tabled a humble address motion to release documents including due diligence work carried out by the Cabinet Office and emails between Lord Mandelson and his ally Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.

A second opposition day debate on a social media ban for under-16s was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, but this could be ditched if the Tories decide so.

by James Tapsfield

Keir Starmer’s loosening grip on the levers of power have been clear for some time.

But the latest scandal over Lord Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein have taken his crisis to a new level.

It is hard to tell which is more deafening – the sound of old scores being settled with Labour’s so-called ‘prince of darkness’, or the knives being sharpened for the PM.

Angela Rayner’s decision to lead the charge for the release of potentially explosive government evidence about Sir Keir’s decision to make Mandelson US ambassador will be particularly alarming for Downing Street.

She is widely seen as on manoeuvres for the leadership, and has an opportunity while rival Andy Burnham remains stranded outside Parliament.

The other oft-touted contender, Wes Streeting, has suffered a setback because of his long-standing ties to Mandelson.

Government whips are now scrambling to find a compromise that will avert a disastrous defeat on the transparency demands this afternoon.

But even if one is found Sir Keir has already bled out more desperately-needed political capital.

And he can only delay the denouement of the documents themselves emerging.

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

• John McDonnell

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.

• Clive Efford

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.

• Angela Rayner

Should we not have the ISC not have the same role now in keeping public confidence in the process?

• Dame Meg Hillier

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.

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.

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.

• Dee Midlands

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.

• IndigoNotifyPlum

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.

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.

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.

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’.