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Lord Peter Mandelson stated he has resigned his membership of the Labour Occasion (Picture: Getty)
Kemi Badenoch ripped into Labour amid the row over Lord Mandelson. The previous US ambassador resigned his Labour membership final night time to keep away from inflicting the occasion “additional embarrassment” following recent revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Tory chief stated stripping him of his peerage must be “checked out” if he’s “convicted of committing crimes”.
She questioned “how he got here to be appointed within the first place”, including that “there are vetting procedures which might have stopped him from ever being appointed”.
Mrs Badenoch added: “It seems to be like Quantity 10 waved these away, and we have been pushing to get the recordsdata launched.
“Labour have been masking this up. It’s now time for us to look into that, and we’ll discover each attainable avenue to verify we perceive the way it was that the Prime Minister allowed himself and the Authorities to be embroiled on this scandal.”
Darren Jones MP is giving a press release to the Commons on Jeffrey Epstein.
Responding to information that Lord Peter Mandelson leaked confidential and privileged data whereas he served as enterprise secretary throughout Gordon Brown’s premiership, Mr Brown says: “I’ve as we speak requested the Cupboard Secretary to analyze the disclosure of confidential and market delicate data from the then Enterprise Division through the world monetary disaster.
“On September 10 final yr, I wrote to the Cupboard Secretary to ask him to analyze the veracity of knowledge contained within the Epstein papers concerning the sale of belongings arising from the banking collapse and communications about them between Lord Mandelson and Mr Epstein.
“That enquiry led to a response on November 19 that no departmental file could possibly be discovered of any data or communication from Lord Mandelson to Mr Epstein on these points.
“Given the stunning new data that has come to gentle within the newest tranche of Epstein papers, together with details about the switch to Mr Epstein of at the very least one extremely delicate authorities doc in addition to different extremely confidential data, I’ve now written to ask for a wider and extra intensive enquiry to happen into the wholly unacceptable disclosure of presidency papers and knowledge through the interval when the nation was battling the worldwide monetary disaster.
“Given the general public curiosity on this, I’ve requested that the outcomes of the enquiry be revealed and carried out in order quickly as attainable.”
6 days in the past15:01 Katie Harris
Small boat migrants make crossing for first time in 13 days
Migrants have arrived within the UK after crossing the English Channel for the primary time in 13 days.
Footage present folks in lifejackets and coats disembarking a Border Power boat in Ramsgate, Kent, as we speak.
The Port of Ramsgate is getting used for migrant arrivals whereas upkeep work takes place at Dover, it’s understood.
Monday’s crossing is the primary since January 19 when 275 folks made the journey.
Solely 933 migrants arrived after crossing the Channel final month, the bottom January determine in 5 years.
6 days in the past14:31 Christian Calgie
Lib Dems say Mandelson must be investigated by the police
The LibDems have stated Mandelson must be investigated by the police for potential misconduct in public workplace.
The decision comes particularly in response to emails from the Epstein recordsdata relating to his suggestion that the boss of JP Morgan threaten the then-Chancellor to keep away from a tax on bankers’ bonuses (see final weblog replace), and different market-sensitive leaks to Epstein giving him a heads up that the Labour authorities was promoting off belongings.
LibDem chief Sir Ed Davey stated: “The Epstein recordsdata counsel Peter Mandelson leaked delicate authorities data to a convicted intercourse offender whereas serving as a minister, and even instructed a US financial institution ought to threaten the Authorities to decrease its tax invoice.
“These allegations are extremely severe, it’s now solely proper that the police examine Peter Mandelson for potential misconduct in public workplace.”
6 days in the past14:26 Christian Calgie
Mandelson informed JP Morgan boss to ‘threaten’ the Chancellor
Peter Mandelson informed the boss of JP Morgan to “threaten” the then-Chancellor Alastair Darling in response to a deliberate tax on bankers’ bonuses through the monetary crash.
Recent emails from the Epstein Recordsdata present that Mr Mandelson secretly suggested Jamie Dimon to name Mr Darling, which data present did happen a number of days later.
The emails from the then-Enterprise Secretary are additional astonishing proof of Mr Mandelson’s time in authorities.
New Epstein emails present Peter Mandelson secretly advising JPMorgan’s CEO on easy methods to struggle Labour’s 2009 bankers’ bonus tax – even suggesting he “mildly threaten” the Chancellor.
Mandelson was Enterprise Secretary on the time.
A yr later, he was searching for work with JPM. pic.twitter.com/Nz8o5pN7b4
— Dan Neidle (@DanNeidle) February 1, 2026
6 days in the past13:22 Steph Spyro
Mandelson leaked No 10 paperwork to Epstein
Lord Mandelson leaked confidential Downing Road paperwork to Jeffrey Epstein when he was enterprise secretary.
The peer forwarded an financial briefing for Gordon Brown, the prime minister on the time, to Epstein in 2009, captioning it: “Fascinating be aware that’s gone to the PM.”
The alternate has prompted requires a prison investigation into his behaviour and raises questions on whether or not Lord Mandelson could have dedicated misconduct in a public workplace by sending commercially delicate authorities paperwork to the convicted paedophile.
6 days in the past13:13 Katie Harris
Mandelson ‘shouldn’t be a member’ of the Lords – Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer believes Lord Mandelson ought to not sit in Parliament following additional revelations concerning the peer’s hyperlinks to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman stated: “The Prime Minister believes that Peter Mandelson shouldn’t be a member of the Home of Lords or use the title.
“Nevertheless, the Prime Minister doesn’t have the ability to take away it.”
Stripping Lord Mandelson of his peerage must be “checked out” if he’s “convicted of committing crimes,” Kemi Badenoch has stated.
Talking throughout a go to to Harrow, north-west London, the Tory chief stated: “If he is convicted of committing crimes, I feel sure, that’s one thing that must be checked out.”
She questioned “how he got here to be appointed within the first place”, including that “there are vetting procedures which might have stopped him from ever being appointed”.
Mrs Badenoch added: “It seems to be like Quantity 10 waved these away, and we have been pushing to get the recordsdata launched.
“Labour have been masking this up.
“It’s now time for us to look into that, and we’ll discover each attainable avenue to verify we perceive the way it was that the Prime Minister allowed himself and the Authorities to be embroiled on this scandal.”
6 days in the past11:05 Katie Harris
Lib Dems requires Mandelson to lose peerage
The Liberal Democrats stated Lord Mandelson must be stripped of his peerage over his hyperlinks with Jeffrey Epstein.
Chief Sir Ed Davey stated: “It is time now for the Authorities to take instant motion by bringing ahead laws to strip Peter Mandelson of his peerage. It’s the very least they will do for the victims and survivors of his good friend Jeffrey Epstein.
“If Mandelson has any disgrace left he’ll retire from the Home of Lords as we speak whereas this course of will get underneath method.”
6 days in the past10:57 Katie Harris
Badenoch requires ‘full Cupboard Workplace investigation’ over Mandelson
Tory chief Kemi Badenoch has demanded a “full Cupboard Workplace investigation” into whether or not Lord Mandelson and his husband took cash from Jeffrey Epstein whereas he was a minister.
Financial institution statements seem to point out Lord Mandelson obtained £75,000 from Epstein, though the previous ambassador to the US insists he had “no file and no recollection of receiving these sums and have no idea if the paperwork are genuine”.
Mrs Badenoch stated: “Sufficient is sufficient. We want a full Cupboard Workplace investigation into how Mandelson and his husband took cash from the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein whereas he was a Labour minister, and why Mandelson was appointed ambassador within the first place.
“Keir Starmer informed me that he had full confidence in Peter Mandelson earlier than having to sack him as ambassador.
“The PM has constantly regarded the opposite method relating to Mandelson’s previous, even avoiding correct vetting.
“Simply yesterday he let Mandelson resign his personal Labour membership quite than performing.
“If Starmer lacks the spine to order this investigation, then it is going to be all of the extra clear that he bears full duty for bringing Mandelson again into British public life regardless of realizing concerning the relationship with Epstein.”
Sufficient is sufficient. We want a full Cupboard Workplace investigation into how Mandelson and his husband took cash from the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein whereas he was a Labour minister, and why Mandelson was appointed Ambassador within the first place.
Keir Starmer informed me that he had fullu2026 https://t.co/Hxketb9H0V
u2014 Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) February 2, 2026
Inexperienced chief Zack Polanski stated he would solely debate Reform UK chief Nigel Farage in response to a letter from the occasion’s head of coverage Zia Yusuf.
Expensive @ZiaYusufUK,
As I preserve saying, I’d be more than pleased to debate, chief to chief, with Nigel Farage.
I am beginning to get the impression he may not be eager?
Perhaps you could possibly be variety sufficient to move this message on?
Hugs, Zack.
u2014 Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) February 2, 2026
6 days in the past08:49 Katie Harris
Reform challenges Greens to TV debate
Zia Yusuf has challenged Inexperienced chief Zack Polanski to a televised debate in Manchester this week forward of the crunch by-election.
Reform UK’s head of coverage insisted the Greens “owe it to the general public to interact significantly on the substantive element of your coverage platform”.
In a letter to Mr Polanski, Mr Yusuf stated he can be campaigning in Gorton and Denton on Thursday and invited him to participate in a head-to-head debate.
ud83dudea8 I’ve challenged Zack Polanski to a LIVE face to face debate in Manchester on Thursday.
Learn my open letter to Zackud83dudc47 pic.twitter.com/jRKbdm5fCO
u2014 Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) February 1, 2026
6 days in the past08:31 Katie Harris
Starmer hints at Rayner comeback
Sir Keir Starmer has instructed former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner might make a political comeback.
She resigned as deputy PM, housing secretary and Labour’s deputy chief in September in a row over her tax affairs.
The Prime Minister informed Occasions Radio: “I want to have Angela again on the proper level. I’ve at all times been clear she has a future position to play.
“She performed an enormous half within the achievement that we received on the final election; getting elected, we have simply handed the Employment Rights Act, which has received her fingerprints throughout it.”
6 days in the past08:01 Katie Harris
Minister declines to say if she is snug with Mandelson remaining in Lords
Requested whether or not Lord Mandelson ought to stay a member of the Home of Lords, authorities minister Olivia Bailey informed Occasions Radio: “The truth of the elimination of a peerage is an advanced one. You need to have been, I consider, despatched to jail for over 12 months or an Act of Parliament must be handed.
“However… Peter Mandelson has stated that he doesn’t intend he’s, he’s. He’s not presently within the Home of Lords and I do perceive that he doesn’t intend to return.”
Lord Mandelson is presently on a depart of absence from the Lords.
Pressed if she was snug with him remaining a member of the higher chamber, Ms Bailey stated: “I feel it is clear that he has inquiries to reply. He’ll account for these.
“It’s proper that he isn’t a member of the occasion. He’s not presently sitting within the Home of Lords.”
6 days in the past07:45 Katie Harris
Minister says Mandelson has ‘inquiries to reply’
Lord Mandelson has “inquiries to reply” over his hyperlinks to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, a authorities minister has stated.
Schooling minister Olivia Bailey informed Occasions Radio she was “happy” Lord Mandelson had resigned from the Labour Occasion.
“There have been clearly questions that Peter Mandelson would want to reply. He is taken this resolution, it is the proper resolution,” she stated.
6 days in the past07:36 Katie Harris
Tories demand probe into Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador
The Conservatives known as for a “full and thorough unbiased investigation” into Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, after his resignation from the Labour Occasion.
A Conservative Occasion spokesman stated: “Lord Mandelson is totally disgraced. But Keir Starmer lacked the spine to take motion, permitting Mandelson to resign from the Labour Occasion as an alternative of kicking him out.
“Keir Starmer and his chief of employees appointed Mandelson ambassador regardless of his relationship with Epstein, after which refused to behave even because the mountain of proof in opposition to him grew.
“Given the Prime Minister’s appalling lack of judgment and the participation of his Downing Road operation, there should now be a full and thorough unbiased investigation.”
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6 days in the past07:28 Katie Harris
Mandelson resigns to keep away from inflicting Labour ‘additional embarrassment’
In his letter, Lord Mandelson stated: “I’ve been additional linked this weekend to the comprehensible furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I really feel regretful and sorry about this.
“Allegations which I consider to be false that he made monetary funds to me 20 years in the past, and of which I’ve no file or recollection, want investigating by me.
“Whereas doing this I don’t want to trigger additional embarrassment to the Labour Occasion and I’m subsequently stepping down from membership of the occasion.”
He added: “I wish to take this chance to repeat my apology to the ladies and women whose voices ought to have been heard lengthy prior to now.
“I’ve devoted my life to the values and success of the Labour Occasion and in taking my resolution, I consider I’m performing in its finest pursuits.”
6 days in the past07:27 Katie Harris
Mandelson resigns Labour membership
Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned his membership of the Labour Occasion to keep away from inflicting it “additional embarrassment” following additional revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, who was sacked as US ambassador final yr, featured in new paperwork launched by the US Division of Justice on Friday associated to the paedophile financier.
Lord Mandelson stated yesterday night that he had written to Labour’s common secretary Hollie Ridley to say he was resigning his occasion membership.
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