John Swinney: I stayed with Mandelson on Trump trip to save money

John Swinney stayed with Peter Mandelson on a US trip to save public money, FMQs has heard.

Swinney went on a White House visit in September to lobby Donald Trump on whisky tariffs.

He was accompanied by Mandelson, who was then the UK’s ambassador to the US, a job that came with premises in Washington.

Swinney has condemned the UK Government’s decision to award the role to Mandelson, whose relationship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein is further exposed in files published by US authorities.

At First Minister’s Questions, Swinney was asked if he regretted staying in Mandelson’s residence during the Washington trip, “given everything that was known about his relationship with the convicted paedophile”.

The question came from Conservative Murdo Fraser and Swinney said the decision had been about the public purse.

He said: “The first people to complain if I had chosen to spend public money staying in a hotel rather than in the British Embassy would be the Conservative Party members in this parliament.

“When I went to Lusaka in Zambia and when I went to Lilongwe in Malawi, I stayed in the British High Commissioner's residence to make sure that I was being careful and prudent with the public purse, as the people understand me to do.”

The Epstein files reveal correspondence with Mandelson at the time of the 2008 financial crash. The UK Government has asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate after documents suggested Mandelson had sent market-sensitive economic information to Epstein.

Swinney, who was Scottish finance secretary during that crisis, has asked for an investigatory audit into Scottish Government dealings with Mandelson.

At FMQs, he said he was “appalled” that the government of the day was “being undermined” as it tackled issues like housing. He went on: “It's an absolutely atrocious set of circumstances, an appalling judgment by the prime minister, and it is dreadful that Scotland and the United Kingdom have been exposed to such weakness as a consequence of the poor decision-making of the prime minister.”

Last night the government U-turned on the publication of some documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, saying anything thought to include material pertinent to national security or international relations would be turned over to a Westminster committee.

The decision came amidst pressure from Labour backbenchers and speculation about whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer can survive the scandal.

Starmer this morning said no one in government “knew the depth and the darkness” of the connection between Mandelson and Epstein, who died in US custody.

Starmer said: “Before he was appointed ambassador, Mandelson was asked directly about his relationship with Epstein. He was asked whether he had stayed with Epstein after his conviction. And when, later, further information came to light he was asked whether he had accepted gifts and hospitality – about whether he had been fully transparent about the relationship.

“The information now available makes clear that the answers he gave were lies.

“He had portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew. And when that became clear and it was not true, I sacked him.

 “Such deceit is incompatible with public service. Let me be clear: no one is above accountability and no one – however well-connected, however experienced, however senior – should hold public office if they cannot meet the basic test of honesty.”