Here is what the Mandelson Files reveal — so far

LONDON — The U.K government has published the first tranche of its long-awaited files relating to the appointment of former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson following the revelations about his association with the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson was sacked as Britain’s top Washington diplomat in September last year, with further revelations prompting a police investigation into his conduct which led to his arrest last month. He has not been charged, and his lawyers have said he is cooperating with the investigation and his overriding priority is to clear his name. He has previously apologized “unequivocally” for his association with Epstein and “to the women and girls that suffered.”

The files shed new light on how Mandelson was appointed to the role. POLITICO last month revealed serious concerns from current and former security officials about the process which appointed him.

Here is what POLITICO has found in the files — so far.

Mandelson wanted a payout of more than £500K when he was sacked

Mandelson asked for a severance payment of more than £500,000 when he was sacked as Britain’s ambassador to Washington last September — he got £75,000.

Internal Foreign Office emails show the ex-ambassador got £40,330 “in lieu of three months’ notice” — and a special severance payment of £34,670.

He asked for a payout of the remainder of his full salary — £161,318 a year over the four-year term — which “would have amounted to £547,201.”

Top Foreign Office official Olly Robbins described the final payout as “good value for money” in a message to Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray in October.

Starmer’s comms chief was ‘satisfied’ over Epstein links

Keir Starmer’s former Director of Communications Matthew Doyle was said to be “satisfied” with Peter Mandelson’s responses when questioned about his contact with Jeffrey Epstein, the documents suggest.

In a note sent to the prime minister on Dec. 11 2024, which included a copy of the due diligence review into Mandelson’s background, Keir Starmer was told his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had also “discussed Peter’s relationship with Jeffery [sic] Epstein.”

The note added: “But your Director of Communications is satisfied with his responses to questions about contact.”

Jonathan Powell says he raised the alarm over the ‘unusual’ appointment process

Starmer’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell claimed to have raised concerns about Mandelson directly with Starmer’s ex-chief of staff McSweeney — but was told they had been addressed.

A freshly published document appears to show details of a fact-finding call between Keir Starmer’s General Counsel Mike Ostheimer and Powell about the appointment process which took place the day after Mandelson’s sacking.

A summary of the discussion says that Powell, a veteran government adviser, found the process “unusual” and “weird rushed.”

According to the document, Powell disclosed that he had raised concerns directly with the prime minister’s then-chief of staff McSweeney about the “individual and reputation,” but was told those issues had been “addressed.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.