Mandelson's Assistant Sent Epstein Government Speech Before Delivery
Exclusive documents from the Epstein files indicate that Peter Mandelson's government assistant, while he served as a minister in 2009, was in contact with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Lord Mandelson, who was the business secretary at the time, is currently under police investigation for misconduct in public office, raising serious questions about the nature of this communication.
Email Reveals Advance Sharing of Speech
The email, sent from a government address to Epstein's Gmail account on 24 July 2009, just two days after Epstein was released from prison for sexual offences, includes a message from the assistant stating, "Peter has asked me to forward you the attached speech he is delivering on Monday. Thanks." The assistant signed off as the executive assistant to the secretary of state, and the email's subject line referenced "HE Speech," likely pointing to higher education matters.
Attached to the email was a document named BirkbeckFINAL.doc, which corresponded to a speech Lord Mandelson delivered three days later at Birkbeck, University of London. In this address, he outlined government expectations for rising university fees and the global marketing of British university courses, as reported by the Financial Times at the time. This speech marked his first public remarks on tertiary education after recently taking on the responsibility in his ministerial role.
Police Investigation and Legal Implications
Lord Mandelson is now the subject of a police investigation into misconduct in public office, with authorities focusing on this incident. The Metropolitan Police have stated that the investigation is complex and requires extensive evidence gathering, declining to provide ongoing updates. Legal experts note that the threshold for prosecution on misconduct in public office is exceptionally high, complicating potential legal outcomes.
Nick Hillman, who worked for the Conservative shadow education team in 2009, expressed bewilderment, telling Sky News, "I cannot fathom why Peter Mandelson thought this would be of interest to the sort of people with the power to move the markets." Meanwhile, Jo Grady, head of the University and College Union, criticized Mandelson's actions, stating, "This is yet another example of Mandelson's close ties to the convicted paedophile, and he should be made to explain why he was giving Epstein advance sight of his speeches on the funding of higher education."
Context and Broader Concerns
The email chain, which originated from the Government Secure Intranet, shows Lord Mandelson seeking advice from Epstein on various topics, as revealed in the Epstein files. Industry professionals from the tertiary education sector at the time could not confirm whether advance access to the speech would have provided Epstein with any financial advantage, but the revelation has sparked widespread concern.
Sky News approached the Cabinet Office for comment on the speech being shared outside government channels but was redirected to the ongoing police investigation. The ministerial assistant involved has also been contacted for a statement. This incident underscores ongoing scrutiny into the relationships between high-profile figures and Epstein, with calls for accountability and transparency in public office.
