No 10 questioned Peter Mandelson on Epstein links before appointment

Sir Keir Starmer explicitly requested Lord Mandelson about his hyperlinks to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein earlier than deciding to nominate him because the UK’s ambassador to the US, the BBC understands.

The prime minister is believed to have requested Mandelson three questions, by way of an e-mail despatched by his chief of workers, Morgan McSweeney, regarding his friendship with the disgraced financier whereas he was being thought of for the influential position.

The questions got here after preliminary vetting of the peer flagged his relationship with Epstein.

The revelation is prone to pile additional scrutiny on what Sir Keir knew earlier than Mandelson acquired the job. Whereas his friendship with Epstein was recognized on the time of his appointment, No 10 mentioned new details about it solely got here to mild this week, prompting his sacking.

Downing Road and Mandelson have declined to remark.

Mandelson was requested to go away his put up on Thursday after a now infamous cache of emails was reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday night.

These included supportive messages Mandelson despatched after Epstein had pleaded responsible to soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.

In a single message, Mandelson is reported to have informed Epstein to “battle for early launch” and, the day earlier than he started his jail sentence, one other which learn: “I feel the world of you.”

These emails didn’t present up in two vetting processes carried out in Whitehall round his appointment.

When Mandelson was into account for ambassador, the Cupboard Workplace’s Propriety and Ethics Group (PET) ready a file for the prime minister that contained details about Mandelson and Epstein’s hyperlinks, the BBC has been informed.

After reviewing the file, No 10 sources say Sir Keir requested Mandelson to handle three particular questions, which have been despatched to him by way of e-mail by the prime minister’s chief of workers, Morgan McSweeney.

These questions have been: why has he continued contact with Epstein after he was convicted? Why was he reported to have stayed in one in all Epstein’s properties whereas the financier was in jail? And was he related to a charity based by Epstein affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell that the financier had backed?

It’s understood Mandelson believes that he was truthful and frank about his affiliation with Epstein, and informed No 10 that he had not stayed in Epstein’s Manhattan condo in 2009, whereas the paedophile was in jail. One other supply confirmed Mandelson informed Downing Road he had not stayed there.

Courtroom paperwork in 2023 confirmed Epstein telling his non-public banker that Mandelson was planning to remain, however the peer has by no means explicitly denied or confirmed if he did.

No 10 sources imagine Mandelson was “economical with the reality” in his solutions to the three questions.

Nonetheless, on the time, his solutions have been thought of ample for him to be appointed which led to a second vetting course of, referred to as “developed vetting” (DV), being carried out beneath the auspices of the International Workplace.

The BBC has been informed the emails weren’t obtainable to these in authorities when Lord Mandelson was appointed, as they got here from a defunct e-mail handle.

A senior Whitehall determine mentioned it might have been doable to find these messages had extra questions been requested, and forensic background digging been carried out.

The row has led to rising stress on Sir Keir over his judgement in making Mandelson ambassador, and questions over the extent of what he knew about ties between Mandelson and Epstein.

Some Labour MPs in private and non-private are asking whether or not Sir Keir ought to resign, and a few are suggesting Quantity 10 senior aides are in charge.

Sources have informed the BBC that Mandelson was requested to resign on Wednesday, despite the fact that the prime minister had backed him at PMQs.

Mandelson refused, and after a “livid” Sir Keir learn the emails on Wednesday evening, a closing resolution to sack him was taken on Thursday morning.

The Cupboard Workplace has declined to remark. Mandelson has repeatedly expressed remorse about his relationship with Epstein who died in jail in 2019.