An investigation into allegations that Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive government financial information to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein will require a “significant amount” of further evidence gathering, the Met Police said. ITV News’ Jay Akbar reports
Gordon Brown said the situation facing Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership was “serious”, but added that the prime minister was a “man of integrity” who had been “misled and betrayed” by Lord Mandelson.
Starmer faces mounting pressure after admitting Lord Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was known before he was appointed US ambassador.
Lord Mandelson is under investigation following allegations he sent sensitive market information to the pedophile financier while business secretary during the financial crisis.
Asked if Starmer was the right man to take the country forward, Brown told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can look him in the eye and see he’s a man of integrity. He wants to do the right thing.
“Maybe he was too slow to do the right things, but he has to do the right things now and we’ll judge what he does, what happens in the next few months when he tries, and I think (he) will try, to clean up the system.”
He suggested there should be American-style confirmation hearings for new government ministers and senior appointments.
On Wednesday, Starmer told MPs that Lord Mandelson had “repeatedly lied” during the vetting process.
Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson in 2010. Credit: PA
However, Brown said the alleged lies told by Lord Mandelson during his nomination process as US ambassador “were not a sufficient explanation for what happened”.
“There is a systemic failure to do proper vetting, to go through proper procedures and to have what I believe should be public hearings for anyone who is going to be in a leadership position representing the British government.”
Brown said he regretted giving Lord Mandelson his chance and returning him to government in 2008, adding that he felt “shocked, sad, angry betrayed, disappointed” when he saw Epstein’s messages released by the US Department of Justice.
Responding to Gordon Brown’s comments, a government spokesman said: “Most people who enter public life do so with a strong sense of duty and to make a difference to people’s lives.
“But the disgraceful and disgraceful behavior revealed this week is completely incompatible with public service and it is right that no one is above responsibility.
“We have already strengthened the Ministerial Code by giving the independent adviser greater powers to launch investigations, introduced a new monthly register of gifts and hospitality, set up a new ethics commission and made sure that ministers who break the rules cannot receive severance pay.
“But Gordon Brown is right that further action is needed in light of what has emerged this week – and we have already started urgent work on how we can do more.”
Police have confirmed that searches of properties linked to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office have been completed. Credit: PA
It comes as the Metropolitan Police said the investigation into Lord Mandelson’s alleged misconduct in public office is “complex” and will require “a significant amount of further evidence gathering”.
On Saturday, the Met confirmed it had completed its searches of two properties – one in Wiltshire and one in Camden, north-west London – in connection with its investigation.
In a statement, Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said: “The searches were linked to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in a public office involving a 72-year-old man.
“He has not been arrested and investigations are ongoing.
“This will be a complex investigation requiring a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis.
“It will take some time to do this work comprehensively and we will not be providing a current comment.”
ITV News tried to contact Mandelson several times about the allegations against him but did not receive a response.
However, he previously said he has “no recollection” of receiving the sums of money mentioned and said he “doesn’t know if the documents are genuine.”
He insisted that Epstein’s money did not influence his actions in government.
Police are searching two addresses linked to Peter Mandelson
Has the Mandelson scandal fatally damaged Keir Starmer’s tenure as prime minister?
Pressure from within Labor continued to mount on Starmer, with left-winger Kim Johnson saying his position was “irretrievable”.
She told Times Radio: “I’m sorry, I have to say I think his position at the moment is irretrievable. I’m sorry to say.”
Starmer’s former deputy Angela Rayner, who left the government last year after a row over the underpayment of stamp duty on a new property, is widely seen as a potential successor to Sir Keir.
The Times reported that Rayner told friends she had warned Starmer against appointing Lord Mandelson as ambassador because of his links to Epstein, although she is said to not want to be the one to launch a challenge against the prime minister.
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Elsewhere, Green Party leader Zack Polanski called on Starmer to resign, claiming the Mandelson scandal was “eroding trust in politics”.
Polanski said the prime minister “must go” after he showed a “catastrophic level of misjudgment” in making Lord Mandelson ambassador to the US.
“I think we already know that people have a deep distrust of the political system, and actually I think it reflects very badly on everybody,” he told the Press Association.
“I think Keir Starmer has to go though.”
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Financial Conduct Authority to launch an investigation into Lord Mandelson.
In a letter to Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper, she said: “It is essential that Mandelson is investigated to see whether he or those he leaked benefited from access to this sensitive and confidential market material.
“He and others must be prosecuted if found to have abused trade laws for financial gain.”
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