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THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION into allegations against Peter Mandelson of misconduct in public office is “complex” and will require a “significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis”, police have said.
The UK government’s former business secretary “lied repeatedly” about his relationship with paedophile financier Epstein during the appointment process to the US ambassador role, according to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is now also on thin ice over the revelations.
Backbenchers have called for either his chief of staff, Cork native Morgan McSweeney, to be sacked or for Starmer himself to step down after bombshell revelations about Mandelson’s dealings with the child sex offender.
Starmer insisted that “none of us knew the depth of the darkness” of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.
Police are investigating allegations that Mandelson, who has stepped down from the House of Lords, passed on market-sensitive information to Epstein when he was business secretary following the 2008 financial crisis.
Messages released appear to show Mandelson celebrate the paedophile’s release from jail as “Liberation day”.
In a statement issued this morning, the Metropolitan Police said it had concluded its searches of two properties – one in Wiltshire, and one in Camden, north-west London.
Deputy assistant commissioner Hayley Sewart said: “The searches were related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offences, involving a 72-year-old man.
“He has not been arrested and inquiries are ongoing.
“This will be a complex investigation requiring 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 a running commentary.”
The number of emails, messages and documents runs into the high tens of thousands, it is understood, and publication could take some time as the Intelligence and Security Committee must assess whether any items should be withheld for national security reasons.
Amid growing uncertainty about his political future, Starmer said earlier this week that he shared the “anger and frustration” of colleagues about the saga but vowed to continue as prime minister.
However, some Labour MPs, including John McDonnell and Barry Gardiner, have publicly suggested Starmer should consider his position.
Labour grandee Harriet Harman said it appeared “weak and naive and gullible” for Starmer to say “he lied to me” and warned the scandal would “finish him off” unless he took the right course of action.
Others have expressed reservations about the prospect of upheaval without an obvious challenger.
There was also anger about Downing Street’s attempt to control the release of potentially explosive documents providing insight into how the decision to make Mandelson the ambassador.
The UK government has backed down and ceded control to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to decide what could be released into the public domain.
The release could be delayed because the Metropolitan Police has asked the government not to publish documents that would “undermine” its probe.
The ISC said it could not provide a timetable for releasing the documents as it reviews whether some of the papers should be withheld for national security reasons.
With reporting by the Press Association
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