FORMER BRITISH PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has called for a new investigation into the alleged disclosure of confidential government information to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by former business secretary Peter Mandelson.

Brown said yesterday that he has asked the current British cabinet secretary to examine the apparent transfer of “highly sensitive and market-sensitive” information from the then-business department to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, following the release of a fresh tranche of Epstein-related documents by US authorities.

In a statement issued to the press, Brown said he first raised concerns last September after earlier Epstein papers emerged, writing to request an investigation into communications between Mandelson and Epstein about the sale of government assets.

That inquiry, Brown said, concluded in November that no departmental record of such disclosures could be found.

“Given the shocking new information that has come to light in the latest tranche of Epstein papers, including information about the transfer to Mr Epstein of at least one highly sensitive government document as well as other highly confidential information, I have now written to ask for a wider and more intensive inquiry,” Brown said.

He added that he had asked for the results of the inquiry to be published “as soon as possible” given the level of public interest.

The latest documents appear to show Mandelson, who was business secretary and a senior figure in Brown’s government, forwarding internal government briefings to Epstein in 2009, at a time when the UK was grappling with the aftermath of the global financial crash.

Mandelson pictured in 2003. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

One email suggests Mandelson passed on an economic memo discussing the potential sale of government assets, writing to Epstein: “Interesting note that’s gone to the PM.”

Other released material indicates Mandelson may have provided Epstein with advance notice of a major EU bailout, lobbied the British treasury over a tax on bankers’ bonuses following conversations with Epstein, and assisted an Epstein associate in securing a major deal with the UK government.

There were also consultations about how Mandelson could build his business career when Labour lost the 2010 election.

On other occasions, the contact between Mandelson and Epstein appeared to be more personal.

“Need to talk, feeling confused,” Mandelson wrote to Epstein in April 2009.

“Where r u? I miss you”, he emailed on 22 December 2010.

According to BBC reporting this morning, one of the participants in an internal government email exchange later forwarded to Epstein is believed to have been Gordon Brown himself, using a private email account.

Mandelson has said his actions in government reflected the views of the financial sector as a whole and not those of any single individual.

He has also said he has no recollection of receiving payments allegedly made to him by Epstein and has questioned the authenticity of the documents.

The Metropolitan Police are currently reviewing reports of alleged misconduct in public office linked to the disclosures, to determine whether they meet the threshold for a criminal investigation.

Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that Mandelson should step down from the House of Lords, and has announced a separate review into his contacts with Epstein while serving as a minister.