No 10 braced for 'excruciating' revelations as private messages between Mandelson and ministers to be released
Good morning. While many express concern over the current state of governance in Britain, there is an unprecedented opportunity for those interested in contemporary history and government operations to access information previously unavailable.
Today, the government is releasing an extensive collection of documents—spanning three volumes and over 1,000 pages—detailing private messages exchanged between Peter Mandelson and government ministers and officials during his tenure as ambassador to the United States and prior to his appointment. Last month, a minister referred to evidence from the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. However, the Chilcot inquiry occurred before the widespread use of WhatsApp and involved secret memos intended for internal Whitehall circulation. WhatsApp messages, by contrast, are more personal, offering an opportunity to overhear private conversations. Mandelson is known for his sharp, often controversial opinions, his fondness for gossip and political maneuvering, and his private views do not always align with his public statements, making these documents particularly intriguing.
These documents are being published in compliance with a humble address—a Commons vote requiring ministers to disclose information—initiated by the Conservative party. Several humble addresses have been passed in recent years, especially since this parliamentary mechanism was revived during the Brexit debates by Labour’s Brexit spokesperson, Keir Starmer. However, none have been as comprehensive as this one.
The Conservative party tabled the humble address to investigate how Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the US despite his continued friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s initial conviction for child sex offences. As reported by Kiran Stacey, Henry Dyer, and Pippa Crerar, the documents suggest the Foreign Office did not rigorously ensure that the proposed "mitigations" to manage risks associated with Mandelson’s appointment were effective.
Regarding the broader question of why Mandelson was appointed, it is already apparent: Mandelson desired the role, was close to Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff who wielded significant influence over Starmer, and both McSweeney and Starmer believed Mandelson’s connections with controversial billionaires would facilitate a strong relationship with Donald Trump, despite this assumption being flawed as the Trump administration did not favor him.
The primary revelations expected today concern private communications among government members. Chris Mason, the BBC’s political editor, described some messages on the Today programme as "excruciating." The Financial Times anticipates the messages will include frontbenchers and Mandelson exchanging humiliating remarks about Starmer. Politico’s London Playbook quoted a source familiar with the files describing the content as "toe-curling."
Government sources do not anticipate these revelations will prompt resignations. For the Conservative party, the disclosures may feel like an early Christmas.
Ironically, Donald Trump is unlikely to be embarrassed by these revelations. While government ministers maintain diplomatic and polite public comments about the US president, their private opinions likely align more closely with those of the general public. However, parliament agreed to withhold any material deemed "prejudicial to UK national security or international relations," so any sensitive anti-Trump content will remain confidential.
James Murray, the new health secretary, provided interviews this morning regarding the Mandelson files release. Speaking to , he stated:
"I think the level of transparency is going to be unprecedented. The volume of information that’s going to be put out is unprecedented. It’s right we do that. We have been very clear that the appointment of Mandelson was wrong. Parliament then decided that this information will be made public. The government is fully complying with that, and it’s important that we honour that commitment to transparency."
Today’s agenda includes:
- 11:30am: Downing Street lobby briefing.
- 2:30pm: John Healey, the defence secretary, answers questions in the Commons.
- Afternoon: Publication of the remaining Mandelson files. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Prime Minister, will make a statement to MPs after 3:30pm to mark their release. The documents should be published by the time of his statement, possibly earlier.
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Farage claims Reform UK party of 'patriotic working class', as poll suggests union members as likely to back his party as Labour
The Times has published polling data from JL Partners indicating that trade union members are as likely to support Reform UK as Labour.
Approximately 1,000 trade union members were surveyed, with Reform UK and the Conservative party each receiving 28% support. Labour trailed with 24% among union members.
The poll shows Reform UK leading among Unite members at 36%, compared to Labour’s 30%, and among GMB members at 31% versus Labour’s 22%. However, Unison members slightly favor Labour at 28% over Reform UK’s 25%.
Commenting on the poll, Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, said:
"Labour is no longer the party of the patriotic working class. That mantle now belongs to Reform."
Union leaders told The Times that these figures indicate Labour faces a potential electoral wipeout without significant change.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, stated:
"Labour has abandoned the working class, and the working class have abandoned Labour. Being prepared to cut the winter fuel allowance, slash benefits for the disabled and aid and abet a jobless transition for oil and gas workers at the same time workers and their families are struggling with a baked-in cost of living crisis is not the change people voted for."
Gary Smith, GMB general secretary, added:
"Reform are no friends of workers. They want to cancel hugely important union rights and are targeting the pensions of the low paid. But Labour has to show working-class people it can be on their side — as it did with last week’s essential help for our ceramics industry."
Rwanda loses legal case against UK demanding compensation over axed deportation scheme
The UK will not be required to pay Rwanda millions of pounds following the failure of the migrant deportation deal, after winning a legal case in the Netherlands, according to the Press Association.
Further details on this story will be provided when available.
Former Labour Scottish first minister Jack McConnell calls for joint Westminster/Holyrood inquiry into SNP embezzlement scandal
Jack McConnell, former Scottish first minister, has called for a joint inquiry between Holyrood and Westminster into Peter Murrell’s embezzlement of SNP funds.
McConnell proposed that the Commons public accounts committee collaborate with its Scottish parliament counterpart.
"This is about the fact that the SNP were the third largest party at Westminster for the best part of 10 years. They received over that time millions of pounds of public money to organise their party affairs. Obviously there are also issues about signing off accounts, and how seriously that was all taken, and I think on all these areas there are issues to be looked at, and recommendations that must be made. So I think this should be a joint public inquiry. I think it should probably be led by the public accounts committee of the House of Commons but it should be done equally and jointly with the equivalent committee at Holyrood so it’s not seen to be the UK Parliament poking its nose into Scottish politics, but the issues about political party funding, about public money, and about the way in which the transparency of political parties’ use of small donations, the protection for small donors. These are issues that are UK-wide. They’re issues for the Electoral Commission and for the UK parliament."
Two prominent US political commentators scheduled to speak at UK events this week have reported being denied entry to the country, Kevin Rawlinson reports.
What humble address says what government must release in Mandelson files
Below is the humble address passed by the Commons in February regarding the Peter Mandelson files. It specifies the documents the government must publish.
"That an humble address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the government to lay before this house all papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as His Majesty’s ambassador to the United States of America, including but not confined to the Cabinet Office due diligence which was passed to Number 10, the Conflict of Interest Form Lord Mandelson provided to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), material the FCDO and the Cabinet Office provided to UK Security Vetting about Lord Mandelson’s interests in relation to Global Counsel, including his work in relation to Russia and China, and his links to Jeffrey Epstein, papers for, and minutes of, meetings relating to the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson, electronic communications between the prime minister’s chief of staff [Morgan McSweeney] and Lord Mandelson, and between ministers and Lord Mandelson, in the six months prior to his appointment, minutes of meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers in the six months prior to his appointment, all information on Lord Mandelson provided to the prime minister prior to his assurance to this House on 10 September 2025 that ‘full due process was followed during this appointment’, electronic communications and minutes of all meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers, government officials and special advisers during his time as ambassador, and the details of any payments made to Lord Mandelson on his departure as ambassador and from the civil service except papers prejudicial to UK national security or international relations which shall instead be referred to the intelligence and security committee of parliament."
The critical clause demands the release of "electronic communications and minutes of all meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers, government officials and special advisers during his time as ambassador." This is a notably extensive requirement. The Conservatives may have anticipated Labour opposition, but at the time (early February), revelations about Mandelson’s links to Epstein were so significant that Labour did not object.
Embarrassing WhatsApps, but no vetting report: what will be in the new release of Mandelson files?
Below is an explainer by Pippa Crerar and Henry Dyer about the contents of the Mandelson files.
The documents include a large volume of WhatsApp messages and other electronic communications between Mandelson and various ministers, officials, and advisers. These messages are expected to reveal candid, sometimes unguarded opinions and exchanges, which may be embarrassing to those involved.
However, the files do not include the full vetting report on Mandelson’s appointment, which remains undisclosed. The absence of this report limits insight into the formal assessment of Mandelson’s suitability for the ambassadorial role.
The release aims to provide transparency regarding the appointment process and Mandelson’s conduct during his tenure, while respecting national security and diplomatic sensitivities.
Overall, the files promise to shed light on internal government dynamics and decision-making processes during a contentious appointment.
