SNP reports Peter Mandelson to police

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, has reported Peter Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police.  

The party has asked the police to investigate whether there is sufficient evidence of criminality in his long-standing relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his actions whilst he was a UK Government minister.  

It comes after the peer resigned from the Labour Party over his links to Epstein in order not to “cause further embarrassment”.  

The former cabinet minister, who was sacked as US ambassador last year because of his relationship with the convicted paedophile, appeared in the latest release of files relating to Epstein by the US Department of Justice on Friday.  

The new material suggests that Epstein paid Mandelson $75,000 (£55,000) in three separate $25,000 payments between 2003 and 2004. Mandelson has denied these allegations and said he has “no record or recollection” of these payments.

Flynn has said the “disgraceful revelations” about the relationship and Mandelson’s actions as a government minister must be “fully investigated by the UK government and all appropriate authorities”.

He said: “There is no question that Lord Mandelson's actions were shameful and unethical – the only question is the extent to which his actions breached the ministerial code and the law.

“I have, therefore, reported Peter Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police.

“Given the seriousness of the allegations against Lord Mandelson, it is essential these matters are fully investigated to ensure maximum transparency and justice. There is a clear public interest in ensuring UK government ministers are not engaged in illegal or unethical activity.

“People will long remember that Keir Starmer dragged his heels and refused to remove the Labour Party whip from Lord Mandelson. The fact that the prime minister is still making excuses for his inaction, and refusing to strip Peter Mandelson of his peerage, will not wash with voters.”

Earlier today, the prime minister’s spokesperson told reporters that Starmer “believes that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title”, after the latest release of files.  

As it stands, removing his peerage would require an act of parliament.  

Starmer has ordered an “urgent” investigation into the contact between Mandelson and Epstein.

Leading figures from the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats have also called for further action by the government against Mandelson.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said in a statement on X that “enough is enough” and that she wanted to see a “full Cabinet Office investigation” into whether Mandelson and his husband accepted money from Epstein during Mandelson’s time as a minister.

“Keir Starmer told me that he had full confidence in Peter Mandelson before having to sack him as Ambassador,” Badenoch said.

“The PM has consistently looked the other way when it comes to Mandelson’s past, even avoiding proper vetting. Just yesterday, he let Mandelson resign his own Labour membership rather than acting.

“If Starmer lacks the backbone to order this investigation, then it will be all the more clear that he bears full responsibility for bringing Mandelson back into British public life despite knowing about the relationship with Epstein.”