New files show British PM warned of ‘reputational risks’ with Mandelson

More than 100 pages of documents were published which covered the process of Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US envoy.Published On 11 Mar 2026Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned of “reputational risks” if he appointed Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States because of his close links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, newly released documents show, but chose to pick Mandelson for the role anyway.On Wednesday, more than 100 pages of documents covering the process of Mandelson’s appointment were published by the British government. Mandelson, a veteran political operator who has worked with several generations of Labour Party leaders, is currently under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to Epstein.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US gov’t committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein fileslist 2 of 3US investigators begin search of Epstein’s former ranch in New Mexicolist 3 of 3‘Titanic’ Trump-Epstein statue appears in Washington DCend of listThe documents were released following pressure from the opposition Conservative Party. In January, files released by the United States Department of Justice included emails that suggested Mandelson had shared secret documents containing the government’s trade plans to Epstein, including during the 2008 financial crash.‘Weirdly rushed’Among the newly released tranche of files, a document titled “Advice to the prime minister, checks conducted on 4 December, 2024″, read: “After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government.”“Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s house while he was in jail in June 2009,” it added.Moreover, in a summary of a fact-finding call between Starmer’s general counsel and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell in September, a document said that Powell thought that the appointment of Mandelson was “weirdly rushed”.