good morning Older readers may remember Peter Mandelson New Labor roams the 1990s like a Bond villain in a sharp suit with a Filofax. An architect of Labor modernization and a lightning rod for right-wing press outrage, he has been in power for more than three decades.
That run has now come to a halt after the US Department of Justice released the so-called Epstein files, which detail Mandelson’s contact with the late billionaire financier and convicted child molester. Jeffrey Epstein. As the Met police investigate Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office, revelations from the files raise immediate questions about judgment, access and accountability at the highest levels of public life.
For today’s newsletter I took a look at Mandelson’s history and current situation and spoke with a research representative Henry Dyer To unpack why, even in these extreme circumstances, Mandelson cannot be removed from the House of Lords. First, the highlights.
Five big stories
UK politics | Labor MPs warned Keir Starmer’s days as Prime Minister are numbered One day angered by the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Gaza | Israeli forces bulldoze part of Gaza cemetery Dozens of British, Australian and other allied soldiers’ war graves Died in World Wars I and II.
crime | An 18-year-old youth was arrested on suspicion of murder A 20-year-old student was stabbed in Leicester city centre He later died in hospital, Leicestershire Police said.
Media | Washington Post editor in chief Matt Murray announced a “broad strategic reset” internally Wednesday morning. “Significant” layoffs across the company.
Immigration | Donald Trump said about the border king 700 federal agents to leave Minnesotathere was a big drop in agents on the ground, but there were still about 2,000 agents there, far above the state’s normal levels.
In depth: ‘Colleagues are expected to act on their personal dignity, ‘good chap’ theory’
Henry Dyer was no stranger to lords behaving badly, having been part of the Guardian team whose investigations into Lord Evans of Watford and Lord Dunnott led them. Suspended from the House of Lords. I wanted to know if a similar fate befell Lord Mandelson, who, though said to be effectively retired, would retain his title.
“Colleagues are expected to act on their personal dignity, the code of conduct says,” Henry told me. “It’s not really well defined – the whole thing has to work on the ‘good chap’ theory.”
But recent publicity suggests that Mandelson is not a ‘nice chap’.
Who is Peter Mandelson – and why is he still important?
Peter Mandelson is one of the most influential political organizers of the past 40 years, yet he has spent much of his time out of the spotlight. A central architect of New Labour, he helped modernize the party’s image in the 1990s, earning him Nickname “The Prince of Darkness” for his media messaging command.
He served in a number of cabinet roles under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, resigning twice amid controversy and returning twice before reinventing himself as a European commissioner, lobbyist and political fixer. Elevated to the House of Lords in 2008, Mandelson remained a behind-the-scenes force within laboradvising Keir Starmer’s leadership and briefly serving as UK ambassador to Washington in 2025, when a flood of Epstein-related stories led him to step down.
Mandelson is an unusual figure in politics for being openly gay, a fact that has shaped how he is perceived by the media and the opposition. Long before the culture wars became part of everyday Westminster debate, his sexuality was weaponized against him. Columnist Matthew Parris “Out” Mandelson In an interview for BBC Two’s Newsnight in 1998, and Boris Johnson referred to “tank-topped bum boys” in a Telegraph column – Blatant homophobic assault Mandelson later called it an outright slur.
What matters to him now, however, is not just his longevity, but his proximity to power: he was never just a minister, but a strategist, gatekeeper and power broker.
what Investigation of Mandelson Ch are you giving
There is the Metropolitan Police Peter Mandelson is being investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public officea common-law offense that applies when a public official is accused of acting in their capacity in a manner that constitutes a serious abuse of public trust. The investigation was launched after documents from the Epstein files were released showing that Mandelson shared confidential and potentially market-sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as secretary of commerce during the global financial crisis.
Misconduct in public office is a very broad and ill-defined crime, but carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In practice, prosecutions are rare and usually focus on whether a public official willfully abused their position without reasonable justification. Other potential avenues of investigation include market abuse if confidential information is disclosed in a way that affects trading in government bonds or financial markets.
Mandelson has denied wrongdoing, saying the documents show no wrongdoing on his part. While the police investigation will include interviews, examination of equipment and requests for unredacted material from US authorities, any decision to bring charges ultimately rests with the prosecutor.
What is the Official Secrets Act – and Did Mandelson break it?
Violation of the Official Secrets Act is often referred to as shorthand for a serious presumptive breach of state trust, but in practice the Act is a blunt, antiquated and rarely used legal tool. Although senior politicians have suggested that Mandelson’s email exchanges with Epstein may have violated the law, it is not clear whether the information shared falls within the narrow categories that the law protects.
The core of the law dates back to 1911, was drafted in the shadow of fears about German invasion, and is written in the language of war, enemies and spies rather than modern government, markets or email trails. For that reason, prosecutions under the law are exceptionally rare – typically less than one per year. Former Intelligence Officers Describe it as “famous”.and prosecutors are wary of using it unless a case is overwhelming.
Espionage trials are also politically sensitive — juries have historically proven unpredictable, and failed cases can cause serious embarrassment for the state. Two of the most famous official secret cases – vs Clive Ponting Over the Falklands, and Kathryn Gunn On the Iraq war – ended in acquittal.
Why was Mandelson not removed from the House of Lords?
In theory, the House of Lords had a disciplinary system, Henry explained. Complaints about peers are investigated by the Lords Commissioner for Standards, who can deal with minor breaches directly or refer more serious cases to the Conduct Committee, a body made up of peers and independent members. It can determine, Henry said, “a peer has to pay back some money, apologize, and it can suspend peers.”
What it almost never does is banish a partner outright. Although the committee technically has that power, it cannot formally fire a person who does not resign first. A close case in 2020 was that of Lord Ahmed, who stepped down after being told he would be expelled following a finding of serious misconduct. He is there Jailed in 2022 For sexual offenses against children.
There are also time constraints, Henry said. Normally, the Lords will only investigate breaches of its code of conduct within the last four years, but the committee may choose to waive that limit in exceptional circumstances. In Mandelson’s case, Henry’s alleged conduct dating back to his tenure as a cabinet minister in 2009 could have been investigated as conduct that brought the House into disrepute – if he had not already resigned.
Crucially, however, resignation from Lord’s does not mean losing the title. Mandelson retired under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014, but he remains Lord Mandelson for life. That distinction is at the heart of the current controversy.
What sanctions might Mandelson eventually face?
With police now investigating, any disciplinary process inside parliament will almost certainly be paused, Henry said. He suggested The case of Michelle Moanhad been under investigation for several years by the Lords Commissioner for Standards while the criminal proceedings were ongoing. Acting before the police investigation is complete risks accusations of prejudgment.
In theory, Parliament could legislate to remove Mandelson from his colleagues altogether. Life Peerages Act Henry asserted that what Parliament creates by statute can be repealed by statute. There is also a legislative template: The Deprivation of Titles Act 1917passed during the First World War, stripped titles from peers who had sided with the enemy powers and included the exact words necessary to strike someone from the roll of peerages.
Legally, however, it can be done quickly – even in a day – if the government chooses to make time for it. The obstacle is political rather than procedural. Targeting a single individual sets an uncomfortable precedent, raises questions as to why one peer was singled out and did not identify others, and veers towards the historical taboo of Parliament and the Crown. Actions of achievers To punish persons with prescribed law.
Henry’s conclusion was straightforward: if ministers really wanted to work, they could. The real issue is whether they are willing to own up to the precedent – and whether they want to wait for the results of criminal investigations before doing so.
What else are we reading?
Lanre Bakare sets out on a quest Learn to style his daughters mixed-race hair. The results are moving and sweet. Amna Mohdin, Newsletter Team
Response to murder Alex Pretty The Trump administration’s justification is heartening, with even the gun lobby questioning it. Abene Clayton contrasts Black gun owner Philando Castile’s lack of attention to police death. Toby Moses, Head of Newsletters
of Aditya Chakraborty Fascinating reporting The Greens show they have become a social movement beyond electoral power, with serious implications for leadership in the Greens and Labour. Amna
Austin Appleby‘s story is a rare ray of light in 2026; Our explainer Watch how a 13-year-old boy swam for four hours and ran 2km in dangerous sea conditions to save his family stranded at sea. Toby
The number of people choosing is increasing Limit contact with their family. Emily Retter delicately analyzes the pros and cons of such a decision. Amna
sport
Winter Olympics | Great Britain’s best hopes of a gold medal at the Winter Olympics have suffered a significant blow after skeleton’s ruling body Team GB has banned aerodynamic helmets For being in the wrong shape.
Rugby Union | ITV will be displayed Commercials in game for the first time During the opening ceremony of the Six Nations Championship between France and Ireland at the Stade de France on Thursday.
Snooker | Much-loved snooker player and commentator John Virgo Died at the age of 79World Snooker announced.
First pages
“‘It’s over’ for Stormer, angry Labor MPs at Mandelson” the guardian Splash. The Times “Starmer Fights for Future on Mandelson Scandal”, The telegraph “Rayner turns on Stormer” and the the sun It just says “rebellion”. “Rainer Twist Knife in Stormer in Grave Peril” is the main story mail, And the I am paper The news of the day was headlined “Stormer isolated: Labor MPs lose confidence in PM”. The FT “Satellite Signals Intercepted by Kremlin Craft, Intelligence Officials Say” the mirror “I can’t imagine life without my John” as snooker legend John Virgo mourns his death.
Today in focus
Survivor on the Epstein Files
The latest release of the Epstein files dominated the news this week. Annie Kelly speaks Lisa Phillipswas abused by Epstein for years in the 2000s and is now a survivor Called for more transparency From the Trump administration.
Cartoon of the day | Nicola Jennings
The Upside
A good news to remind you that the world is not all bad
The Welsh county of Carmarthenshire has launched “The Sisterhood”, capitalizing on the trend of women eschewing traditional prosecco-fuelled outings. Trips focused on well-being and acquiring new skills.
The aim is to immerse visitors in the local landscape and its seasons, while also aiming to evoke chveroliath, the Welsh word for brotherhood, which means “sisters together”. This reflects the Welsh tradition of women often gathering while doing shared tasks such as milking or churning butter.
Groups can choose pre-curated stays or they can design a bespoke experience. The activities are led by Wild Kin, a collective of local experts including potters, painters, coastal foragers, horse whisperers, walking guides, makers and massage therapists.
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