Newslinks for Wednesday 4th February 2026
This deserves loud pushback.
Mandelson facing full criminal investigation as Kemi piles on political pressure
“Scotland Yard began a full criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson on Tuesday. The move followed more damning revelations about the ex-Labour grandee’s relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. While he was a Cabinet minister, the former spin doctor repeatedly tipped off the tycoon about market-sensitive government plans, emails suggest. On Tuesday, the Government and ex-prime minister Gordon Brown got in touch with the Metropolitan Police, leaving the peer facing an unprecedented probe. It came as the Daily Mail uncovered further sensational details about Lord Mandelson’s dealings with Epstein, with whom he remained close even after the financier had been jailed for child sex offences. One bombshell email seemingly showed the pair discussing confidential negotiations over a £10billion Ministry of Defence contract while Lord Mandelson was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government. In another exchange, on the day Epstein was released from prison, the pair appeared to joke about celebrating with ‘two strippers’ – with Lord Mandelson branding his paedophile friend a ‘naughty boy’ for making the suggestion. Lord Mandelson has previously suggested his status as a gay man meant he was ‘kept separate from what (Epstein) was doing in the sexual side of his life’. Among the three million pages of so-called Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice are bank statements that suggest Lord Mandelson and his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, received payments from Epstein totalling tens of thousands of pounds.” – Daily Mail
Tories to force Starmer to publish Mandelson vetting advice using arcane Commons rule – Daily Express
Tories seek disclosure of vetting process for Mandelson’s ambassador role – The Guardian
Starmer to release Mandelson files – Daily Telegraph
Starmer faces scrutiny over Mandelson’s appointment as police investigate alleged leaks to Epstein – BBC News
Epstein paid Mandelson’s husband $4k a month – Daily Telegraph
‘Bye bye, smelly’: How Mandelson and Epstein seemingly ‘plotted against Gordon Brown during his final months in office’ – Daily Mail
Gordon Brown lashes out against Starmer as his 30-year grudge against Mandelson boils over – Daily Express
Comment:
A personal tragedy but a jaw-dropping scandal – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times
When I met Peter Mandelson, I knew straight away he was rotten – Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph
Mandelson scandal shortens odds on Starmer following him out the door – Peter Walker, The Guardian
Labour owes debt to giant of politics in modern era – Matthew Parris, The Times
Mandelson may have indelibly tarred Labour as the party of sleaze – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
Westminster could talk …
This deserves loud pushback.
Mandelson facing full criminal investigation as Kemi piles on political pressure
“Scotland Yard began a full criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson on Tuesday. The move followed more damning revelations about the ex-Labour grandee’s relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. While he was a Cabinet minister, the former spin doctor repeatedly tipped off the tycoon about market-sensitive government plans, emails suggest. On Tuesday, the Government and ex-prime minister Gordon Brown got in touch with the Metropolitan Police, leaving the peer facing an unprecedented probe. It came as the Daily Mail uncovered further sensational details about Lord Mandelson’s dealings with Epstein, with whom he remained close even after the financier had been jailed for child sex offences. One bombshell email seemingly showed the pair discussing confidential negotiations over a £10billion Ministry of Defence contract while Lord Mandelson was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government. In another exchange, on the day Epstein was released from prison, the pair appeared to joke about celebrating with ‘two strippers’ – with Lord Mandelson branding his paedophile friend a ‘naughty boy’ for making the suggestion. Lord Mandelson has previously suggested his status as a gay man meant he was ‘kept separate from what (Epstein) was doing in the sexual side of his life’. Among the three million pages of so-called Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice are bank statements that suggest Lord Mandelson and his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, received payments from Epstein totalling tens of thousands of pounds.” – Daily Mail
Tories to force Starmer to publish Mandelson vetting advice using arcane Commons rule – Daily Express
Tories seek disclosure of vetting process for Mandelson’s ambassador role – The Guardian
Starmer to release Mandelson files – Daily Telegraph
Starmer faces scrutiny over Mandelson’s appointment as police investigate alleged leaks to Epstein – BBC News
Epstein paid Mandelson’s husband $4k a month – Daily Telegraph
‘Bye bye, smelly’: How Mandelson and Epstein seemingly ‘plotted against Gordon Brown during his final months in office’ – Daily Mail
Gordon Brown lashes out against Starmer as his 30-year grudge against Mandelson boils over – Daily Express
Comment:
A personal tragedy but a jaw-dropping scandal – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times
When I met Peter Mandelson, I knew straight away he was rotten – Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph
Mandelson scandal shortens odds on Starmer following him out the door – Peter Walker, The Guardian
Labour owes debt to giant of politics in modern era – Matthew Parris, The Times
Mandelson may have indelibly tarred Labour as the party of sleaze – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
Westminster could talk …
Newslinks for Wednesday 4th February 2026
This deserves loud pushback.
Mandelson facing full criminal investigation as Kemi piles on political pressure
“Scotland Yard began a full criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson on Tuesday. The move followed more damning revelations about the ex-Labour grandee’s relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. While he was a Cabinet minister, the former spin doctor repeatedly tipped off the tycoon about market-sensitive government plans, emails suggest. On Tuesday, the Government and ex-prime minister Gordon Brown got in touch with the Metropolitan Police, leaving the peer facing an unprecedented probe. It came as the Daily Mail uncovered further sensational details about Lord Mandelson’s dealings with Epstein, with whom he remained close even after the financier had been jailed for child sex offences. One bombshell email seemingly showed the pair discussing confidential negotiations over a £10billion Ministry of Defence contract while Lord Mandelson was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government. In another exchange, on the day Epstein was released from prison, the pair appeared to joke about celebrating with ‘two strippers’ – with Lord Mandelson branding his paedophile friend a ‘naughty boy’ for making the suggestion. Lord Mandelson has previously suggested his status as a gay man meant he was ‘kept separate from what (Epstein) was doing in the sexual side of his life’. Among the three million pages of so-called Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice are bank statements that suggest Lord Mandelson and his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, received payments from Epstein totalling tens of thousands of pounds.” – Daily Mail
Tories to force Starmer to publish Mandelson vetting advice using arcane Commons rule – Daily Express
Tories seek disclosure of vetting process for Mandelson’s ambassador role – The Guardian
Starmer to release Mandelson files – Daily Telegraph
Starmer faces scrutiny over Mandelson’s appointment as police investigate alleged leaks to Epstein – BBC News
Epstein paid Mandelson’s husband $4k a month – Daily Telegraph
‘Bye bye, smelly’: How Mandelson and Epstein seemingly ‘plotted against Gordon Brown during his final months in office’ – Daily Mail
Gordon Brown lashes out against Starmer as his 30-year grudge against Mandelson boils over – Daily Express
Comment:
A personal tragedy but a jaw-dropping scandal – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times
When I met Peter Mandelson, I knew straight away he was rotten – Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph
Mandelson scandal shortens odds on Starmer following him out the door – Peter Walker, The Guardian
Labour owes debt to giant of politics in modern era – Matthew Parris, The Times
Mandelson may have indelibly tarred Labour as the party of sleaze – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
Westminster could talk …
