Newly disclosed files show Mandelson sharing confidential and high-level UK government information with Epstein (Alamy)
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The Metropolitan Police will investigate Peter Mandelson for misconduct in public office.
Met Police Commander Ella Marriott announced on Tuesday that it had launched an investigation into “a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences”.
Earlier today, Mandelson, a former cabinet minister, who Keir Starmer sacked as UK ambassador to the US in September over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, said he would resign from the House of Lords amid growing outrage over his links to the paedophile financier.
The Labour government has said it is looking at using legislation to strip Mandelson of his peer title — an action which no UK government has taken since World War One.
Newly disclosed files show Mandelson sharing confidential and high-level UK government information with Epstein.
In a statement tonight, Marriott said: “Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK Government.
“I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.
“The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time.”
This morning, the PM told cabinet he was “appalled” by the latest revelations about his former ambassador in Washington.
“He [the PM] said the alleged passing on of emails of highly sensitive government business was disgraceful, adding that he was not reassured that the totality of the information had yet emerged,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.
They added that Starmer said Mandelson had “let his country down”.
Starmer and his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, are facing renewed questions over their decision to appoint Mandelson as US ambassador.
