An investigation into allegations that Lord Mandelson released sensitive government financial information to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein will require a ‘significant amount’ of further evidence gathering, the Met Police have said. ITV News’ Jay Akbar reports
Gordon Brown said that the situation facing Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership is “serious”, but added that the Prime Minister was “a man of integrity” who was “misled and deceived” by Lord Mandelson.
Starmer faces mounting pressure after admitting Lord Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was known before he was appointed as US ambassador.
Lord Mandelson is under investigation following allegations that he sent sensitive market information to the financier of pedophiles while he was business secretary during the financial crisis.
Asked if Starmer was the right man to lead the country forward, Brown told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can look him in the eye and I can see he is a man of integrity. He wants to do the right thing.
“Maybe he was too slow to do the right things, but he has to do the right things now, and let’s judge what he does, on what happens in the next few months when he tries, and I believe (he) tries, to clean the system.”
He suggested that there should be American-style confirmation hearings for new government ministers and senior appointments.
On Wednesday, Starmer told MPs that Lord Mandelson had “lied repeatedly” during the inquiry process.
Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson in 2010. Credit: PA
However, Brown said the alleged lies told by Lord Mandelson during his appointment as US ambassador were not a “sufficient explanation for what happened”.
“There is a systemic failure to carry out a proper audit, to go through the proper procedures and to actually have, in my view, what should be public hearings for anyone who will be in a high position representing the British government.”
Brown said he regretted giving Lord Mandelson his peerage and bringing him back into government in 2008, adding that he felt “shocked, sad, angry betrayed, despondent” when he saw the Epstein messages released by the US Department of Justice.
When responding to Gordon Brown’s comments, a spokesperson for the Government said: “Most people who enter public life do so with a strong sense of duty and to make a difference in people’s lives.
“But the disgraceful and disgraceful behavior revealed this week is completely incompatible with public service, and it is right that no one is above responsibility.
“We have already strengthened the Ministerial Code, giving the independent adviser greater powers to launch investigations, introducing a new monthly register of gifts and hospitality, establishing a new ethics commission, and ensuring that ministers who break the rules cannot receive severance pay.
“But Gordon Brown is right that more action is needed in light of what has come out this week – and we have already started the urgent work on how we can do more.”
Police have confirmed that searches of properties related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office have concluded. Credit: PA
It comes as the Metropolitan Police said the investigation into Lord Mandelson’s alleged misconduct in public office is “complex” and will require “a significant amount of further evidence gathering”.
On Saturday, the Met confirmed it had concluded its searches at two properties – one in Wiltshire and one in Camden, north-west London – in connection with its investigation.
In a statement, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said: “The searches were related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office crimes, which involved a 72-year-old man.
“He was not arrested and the inquiries are still ongoing.
“This will be a complex investigation that will require a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis.
“It will take some time to do this work comprehensively and we will not be providing current commentary.”
ITV News tried to contact Mandelson several times regarding the allegations against him but did not receive a response.
However, he said before he has “no recollection” of receiving the sums of money he mentioned and said that “he does not know if the documents are authentic”.
He stressed that Epstein’s money did not influence his actions in government.
Police search two addresses linked to Peter Mandelson
Has the Mandelson scandal fatally damaged Keir Starmer’s premiership?
Pressure from within Labor ranks continued to mount on Starmer, with left winger Kim Johnson saying his position is “irredeemable”.
She told Times Radio: “I’m sorry, I have to say that I think his position at this time is irredeemable. I’m sorry to say.”
Former Starmer MP Angela Rayner, who left the Government last year after a row over her underpayment of stamp duty on new property, is widely seen as a potential successor to Sir Keir.
The Times reported that Rayner told friends that she had warned Starmer not to appoint Lord Mandelson as ambassador because of his links to Epstein, although she is said to not want to be the one to launch a challenge against the Prime Minister.
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Elsewhere, Green Party leader Zack Polanski called on Starmer to stand down, claiming the Mandelson scandal “undermines trust in politics”.
Polanski said the Prime Minister “needs to go” after he showed a “catastrophic level of bad judgement” by making Lord Mandelson the ambassador to the United States.
“I think we already know that people don’t trust the political system very much and, in fact, I just think it reflects on everyone really badly,” he told the Press Association.
“I think Keir Starmer needs to go though.”
The Liberal Democrats have asked the Financial Conduct Authority to launch an investigation into Lord Mandelson.
In a letter to the guardian of the City, the deputy leader Lib Dem, Daisy Cooper said: “It is crucial that Mandelson is investigated to see if he or those to whom the information was released benefited from the access to this sensitive and confidential material of the market.
“He and others must face criminal prosecution if found to have abused trade laws for financial gain.”
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