Richard Foord Liberal Democrat, Honiton and Sidmouth

The Epstein files suggest that Lord Mandelson was prepared to lobby in the United States in 2009 for a policy position in contradiction to that of Her Majesty’s Government, in which he was then serving as Business Secretary. Will this revelation encourage the Government to find out whether Lord Mandelson lobbied against his Government while serving last year as British ambassador to the United States? Can the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister find out whether this lobbying against British Government policy is revealed in US policy towards the UK?

Darren Jones Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister), Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations

As I have informed the House today, the Cabinet Secretary is reviewing all documentation relating to Peter Mandelson’s time as a Minister in the last Labour Government to see what information is available today, and we will comply with any investigations that take place as a consequence. The hon. Member is right that any Minister acting against the collective decisions of Cabinet and against the Government is in breach of the rules. It is unacceptable behaviour, and if any Minister were to do that today, they would be quickly dismissed.

Source: US Department of Justice Release of Files Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:57 pm on 2 February 2026.

But don’t hold your breath.

Pippa Crerar on X yesterday reported that 

Gordon Brown says he has asked Cabinet Secretary to investigate disclosure of “confidential and market sensitive information” allegedly from Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein. 

Former PM says he first asked CS (Cabinet Secretary) to do this in September but biz department (Department for Business & Trade) found no records.

He has “now written to ask for a wider and more intensive enquiry to take place into the  wholly unacceptable disclosure of government papers and information during the period when the country was battling the global financial crisis.”