Newly released government documents show the Prime Minister received a formal advisory note flagging Lord Mandelson’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein less than two weeks before confirming the appointment — raising fresh questions about Sir Keir’s judgement.
A 147-page cache of internal government files, released after MPs forced disclosure, has laid bare the full timeline of Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the United States and the messy fallout that followed his sacking last year.
The documents reveal that on 11 December 2024 — nine days before Mandelson was formally confirmed in the role — the Prime Minister received a written advisory note identifying Epstein as a “general reputational risk.” The same note referenced a 2009 JP Morgan report that found Mandelson had maintained a “particularly close relationship” with the disgraced financier even after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution with a minor.
Sir Keir has insisted he was unaware of “the extent and depth” of that relationship at the time of the appointment, but the contents of the advisory note will make that position harder to sustain publicly.
The Prime Minister’s own national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, who worked alongside Mandelson throughout Tony Blair’s premiership, is recorded as describing the appointment as “weirdly rushed” and as having raised concerns about “the individual and reputation” with Sir Keir’s then-chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. Those reservations appear to have been raised on a fact-finding call the day after Mandelson’s eventual sacking in September 2025.
Mandelson Sought More Than £500,000 Severance
Among the more striking disclosures is the claim that Mandelson requested a severance package in excess of £500,000 following his dismissal. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones described the demand in the House of Commons as “inappropriate and unacceptable.” The Treasury ultimately agreed a settlement of £75,000 — with one internal email noting the government had done “well to get this settlement down this low with minimal fuss.”
Mandelson is said to dispute the framing of the severance claim and has made clear he had no intention of pursuing an employment tribunal. In a personal email dated 17 September 2025, written shortly after his sacking, he said his primary concern was “leaving the US and arriving in the UK with the maximum dignity and minimum media intrusion.”
The Blair-Epstein Meeting
The documents also shed new light on a previously reported meeting between Tony Blair and Epstein in 2002, with emails showing Mandelson played a direct role in arranging it. In a message to Jonathan Powell dated 7 May 2002, Mandelson wrote that he had mentioned Epstein’s presence in London to Blair, who had expressed a wish to meet him.
A briefing note prepared for Blair ahead of that meeting described Epstein as a “super-rich” financial adviser who “travels with Clinton” and suggested a conversation with him on science and international economics would be worthwhile. A Blair spokesperson confirmed the meeting took place but said it lasted less than 30 minutes and that Blair never saw Epstein again.
Criminal Investigation Still Active
Mandelson was arrested last month on suspicion of leaking sensitive government information dating back to his time as business secretary under a previous Labour government. He remains under investigation and has stated he has not acted criminally and was not motivated by personal gain.
The Metropolitan Police asked the government to withhold certain documents to avoid prejudicing the ongoing criminal investigation. Also absent from this first release is a vetting exchange in which McSweeney reportedly put three direct questions to Mandelson about his ties to Epstein — covering his continued contact after Epstein’s conviction, reports of him staying at Epstein’s home while the financier was imprisoned, and his association with a charity linked to Ghislaine Maxwell.
Sir Keir has said the full document release will demonstrate that Mandelson misled him during the vetting process. Mandelson’s position, the BBC understands, is that he answered those questions accurately.
Further batches of documents are expected to be released in the coming weeks, with officials described as still working through thousands of files. Jones told MPs the material published so far may represent only a fraction of what is yet to come.
