Gordon Brown Calls for Urgent Inquiry into Mandelson's Epstein Leak
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has formally requested the Cabinet Secretary to launch a comprehensive investigation into allegations that Peter Mandelson leaked highly sensitive government information to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. This demand follows the release of millions of documents by the US justice department, which have shed new light on the connections between Mandelson and Epstein during a critical period in UK politics.
Details of the Alleged Leak
The controversy centres on an email sent on 13 June 2009, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The email, with the subject line "Business issues", was authored by Brown's special adviser, Nick Butler, and addressed to key figures including Jeremy Heywood, the then No 10 chief of staff, and business minister Shriti Vadera. It discussed potential policy measures and suggested that the government possessed saleable assets, such as land and property, which could be used to alleviate debt burdens.
Mandelson, who served as Business Secretary under Brown's premiership, allegedly forwarded this email to Epstein with the comment: "Interesting note that's gone to the PM." Epstein, who was serving a jail sentence at the time for soliciting prostitution from a minor, responded by inquiring about the nature of these saleable assets. A reply from a redacted email address speculated: "Land, property I guess."
Broader Implications and Political Fallout
In response to these revelations, Gordon Brown stated: "I have today asked the cabinet secretary to investigate the disclosure of confidential and market sensitive information from the then business department during the global financial crisis." He emphasised the need for a wider and more intensive inquiry, given the shocking new information that has emerged, and has called for the results to be published as soon as possible due to the significant public interest.
Nick Butler, the author of the original memo, expressed his disgust at the breach of trust, stating that the leak was presumably intended to give Epstein an opportunity to profit financially. He is considering reporting the matter to the police, highlighting the severe implications of such actions during a time of national economic crisis.
Political Reactions and Calls for Accountability
Labour leader Keir Starmer has suggested that Mandelson should resign from the House of Lords and has urged the upper chamber to modernise its disciplinary procedures to potentially strip him of his peerage. This comes after Mandelson resigned his membership of the Labour party on Sunday, further intensifying the political scrutiny surrounding his actions.
Downing Street has confirmed that Starmer has asked Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald to conduct an urgent review, examining all available information regarding Mandelson's contacts with Epstein during his tenure as a government minister. This review aims to uncover the full extent of the disclosures and ensure accountability for any misconduct.
Historical Context and Ongoing Investigations
The latest tranche of documents released by US authorities reveals that Epstein received internal discussions from the highest levels of the UK government following the financial crash. This includes not only the June 2009 email but also an analysis of business lending drawn up by Shriti Vadera in August 2009, which was similarly forwarded to Epstein. While the sender of this email has been redacted, Mandelson's involvement in these discussions is evident.
Additionally, the documents indicate that Mandelson may have lobbied ministers over a tax on bankers' bonuses in 2009 and confirmed an imminent bailout package for the euro in 2010, just before its public announcement. These actions raise serious questions about the integrity of government communications and the potential for insider information to be exploited.
Gordon Brown had previously requested an investigation into communications about asset sales between Mandelson and Epstein in September last year, following an earlier release of documents. However, he was informed that no departmental record could be found, underscoring the challenges in uncovering the full truth. The current inquiry seeks to address these gaps and provide a transparent account of the events that transpired during this tumultuous period in British politics.
