The previous prime minister met the financier in 2002 after being informed he was pals with Peter Mandelson and Invoice Clinton
Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson in 2000 (Picture: PA)
Sir Tony Blair met financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2002, the newly launched Mandelson information present. Sir Tony, who was prime minister on the time, was informed that Epstein was near Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, “very wealthy”, and pals with each Invoice Clinton and Peter Mandelson.
The assembly occurred earlier than Epstein was convicted of intercourse offences after pleading responsible in 2008 to procuring a toddler for prostitution. A memo to Sir Tony dated Could 14, 2002 from civil servant Matthew Rycroft mentioned: “Pete says that Epstein now travels with Clinton, and Clinton desires you to fulfill him.”
Paperwork launched on Wednesday additionally present that the due diligence report that went to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer flagged that Lord Mandelson maintained ties to Jeffrey Epstein after the financier was convicted of procuring an under-age lady.
The peer additionally stayed at Epstein’s home whereas the businessman was imprisoned.
In a piece entitled Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein, the report mentioned: “A 2019 report commissioned by JP Morgan discovered that Epstein appeared to ‘keep a very shut relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British authorities’.
“The report cited Epstein’s private information, which confirmed contact starting in 2002 and persevering with all through the 2000s.
“After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an under-age lady in 2008, their relationship continued throughout 2009-2011, starting when Lord Mandelson was enterprise minister and persevering with after the tip of the Labour authorities. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s Home whereas he was in jail in June 2009.
“In 2014, Mandelson additionally agreed to be a ‘founding citizen’ of an ocean conservation group based by Ghislaine Maxwell and funded by Epstein.
“On reporting of the JP Morgan report, Lord Mandelson’s spokesperson mentioned: ‘Lord Mandelson very a lot regrets ever having been launched to Epstein. This connection has been a matter of public file for a while. He by no means had any type of skilled or enterprise relationship with Epstein in any type.’”
The report additionally pointed to a 2024 Telegraph report on the pair’s hyperlinks.
It additionally mentioned: “The Cupboard Workplace holds official information which can be more likely to be launched by the Nationwide Archives early subsequent yr, which relate to a Tony Blair assembly with Epstein that was facilitated by Mandelson.” The due diligence report concluded: “To notice – normal reputational danger.”
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Former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor must be held to account “not only for reviews of sharing state secrets and techniques, but in addition for trafficking and sexual abuse of ladies and women”, the chairwoman of the Commons’ Ladies and Equalities Committee has mentioned.
Labour MP Sarah Owen (Luton North) mentioned: “It’s unhappy, nevertheless it’s true that Worldwide Ladies’s Day rings hole for a lot too many ladies, however notably the three courageous girls that I’ve simply met. They’re survivors of Epstein. For them, necessary days like that come and go.
“However what’s the minister doing to make sure that we don’t simply mark necessary days for ladies and women, however give them the safety and justice they deserve, and to carry perpetrators like Andrew Mountbatten to account, not only for reviews of sharing state secrets and techniques, but in addition for trafficking and sexual abuse of ladies and women?”
Equalities minister Seema Malhotra mentioned the main focus should be on the victims and “putting in help for ladies and women who’ve confronted horrendous violence”.
“A number of police forces at the moment are assessing allegations arising from the Epstein information.
“The Nationwide Police Chiefs’ Council has established a nationwide co-ordination group and has now appointed a senior investigator to help forces in reviewing the in depth materials and progressing the ensuing investigations.”
She mentioned the senior investigator is working “to make sure a constant and evidence-led strategy”.
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