Keir Starmer could be forced to publish details of exactly what he knew about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein when appointing him US ambassador.
Kemi Badenoch will force a Commons vote this afternoon that could require Downing Street to release details of the vetting material provided to the Prime Minister.
This could include all messages exchanged about the appointment between Lord Mandelson, the PM and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
Downing Street rejected the call yesterday, saying it ‘would not be appropriate’ to release details of Lord Mandelson’s vetting. But, with Labour MPs furious over the scandal, No 10 was last night weighing up whether to risk a Commons revolt by ordering them to vote down the Tory motion.
The Tories last night tabled a rare ‘humble address’ to the King requesting the Government release documents surrounding Sir Keir’s decision to recall Lord Mandelson to government.
Kemi Badenoch last night urged Labour MPs to back the motion, which would also force the Government to release details of the six-figure payoff reportedly handed to Lord Mandelson following his sacking as US ambassador last year.
‘Labour MPs have a clear choice,’ she said. ‘Either they can support our efforts to reveal the truth about how and why Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador to Washington despite his known links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein; or they can help Keir Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney dodge scrutiny over this sordid affair.
‘The cover-up has gone on too long, which is why the Conservatives are bringing a humble address before Parliament to demand the publication of all relevant information about Mandelson’s appointment and why the proper vetting never happened.
Keir Starmer could be forced to publish details of exactly what he knew about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein when appointing him US ambassador
Kemi Badenoch will force a Commons vote this afternoon that could require Downing Street to release details of the vetting material provided to the Prime Minister
Mandelson is facing the threat of a police probe into leaking UK secrets to the paedophile financier (pictured together)
‘I hope MPs of all parties will join us in fighting for the truth, for full justice for Epstein’s victims, and for openness and honesty with the British people.
‘If the Prime Minister had a backbone, he’d allow his MPs to vote with their conscience and put their country before their party.’
Downing Street has admitted that the PM knew Lord Mandelson had continued his relationship with Epstein after he was released from prison in 2009 for child sex offences, even staying at his house while he was business secretary in the last Labour government.
Sir Keir continued to defend the then-ambassador even after the release last September of a birthday tribute in which Lord Mandelson called Epstein his ‘best pal’.
No 10 later said Sir Keir had not appreciated the ‘depth and extent’ of his relationship with Epstein until the release of emails a few days later which showed Lord Mandelson had encouraged the disgraced financier to lodge an appeal against his conviction.
Downing Street said it was the ‘longstanding policy’ of successive governments not to release confidential advice to the prime minister, such as vetting material.
However, in opposition Sir Keir used an identical procedure to force the Tories to release material relating to Boris Johnson’s decision to give a peerage to media tycoon Evgeny Lebedev.
One Labour MP told the Mail it would be ‘foolish’ for the PM to try to block the release. ‘There is open fury about the way this has been handled,’ the source said. ‘We just have to get everything out there.’
Downing Street has admitted that the PM knew Lord Mandelson had continued his relationship with Epstein after he was released from prison in 2009 for child sex offences (Mandelson pictured in June 2025)
Labour Left-winger Richard Burgon said Lord Mandelson deserved to face ‘the toughest consequences possible’, but said there were also questions for the PM and his advisers.
‘What we already knew about his behaviour was appalling enough. So the question remains: why was he appointed US ambassador? Who lobbied for it? And why?’
Mr McSweeney is said to have been in thrall to Lord Mandelson for years and is reported to have been ‘very insistent’ that he should be handed the role, despite Foreign Office reservations.
The pair are said to have spoken every day for years to discuss strategy.
A Tory source said Mr McSweeney was ‘deeply implicated in the scandal’.
Downing Street yesterday said the PM retained ‘full confidence’ in his most senior aide.
