Police search Mandelson’s properties in Epstein probe as stress mounts on Starmer | EUROtoday

Police searched two properties linked to Peter Mandelson on Friday after the peer was alleged to have leaked authorities info to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Metropolitan Police mentioned officers from its central specialist crime staff carried out two warrants in Camden, north London, and Wiltshire in reference to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public workplace offences.

The pressure mentioned the alleged offences concerned a 72-year-old man and confirmed that he had not been arrested.

It comes after emails launched final week by the US Department of Justice urged that Lord Mandelson leaked confidential authorities paperwork to the US financier and convicted intercourse offender.

Emails from 2009 seem to indicate Lord Mandelson go on an evaluation by Gordon Brown’s adviser of potential coverage measures, together with an “asset sales plan”.

He additionally appeared to debate a tax on bankers’ bonuses and make sure an imminent bailout package deal for the euro the day earlier than it was introduced in 2010.

The revelations triggered a police investigation and piled stress on Sir Keir Starmer to launch all vetting paperwork associated to the peer’s appointment because the UK’s ambassador to the US.

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On Friday it was revealed that senior authorities figures can be pressured at hand over their messages with Lord Mandelson forward of the discharge of vetting recordsdata, which the unbiased Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) mentioned could be printed “very shortly”.

Writing to committee chair Lord Beamish in a letter printed on Friday, Sir Keir mentioned: “I have asked the cabinet secretary to work with you and your committee to agree the detail of how material that may be prejudicial to the UK’s National Security and International Relations is shared and reviewed, having regard to the requirements of the Metropolitan Police investigation.

“Above all else, the federal government needs to interact constructively with the ISC, and to make sure that parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency it deserves. I’ve requested the cupboard secretary to comply with up.”

Lord Mandelson was dealt another blow on Friday as the lobbying firm he co-founded, Global Counsel, said it had cut all ties with the disgraced former US ambassador and announced that its head Benjamin Wegg-Prosser would step down.

Co-founder and chief executive Mr Wegg-Prosser said he was leaving the organisation as it was “time to draw a line” between the firm and the “actions” of Lord Mandelson.

Sir Keir’s leadership has been thrown into turmoil following the release of the emails as he was forced to admit he knew Lord Mandelson had a relationship with Epstein.

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On Wednesday, members of his own party forced him into a humiliating climbdown over the release of the vetting documents relating to the peer’s appointment.

Initially, the prime minister had attempted to restrict the publication of the documents, arguing that some details would need to be redacted on national security grounds. But following accusations from Labour MPs that he was engaging in a cover-up, Sir Keir relented.

He told Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday that Lord Mandelson had “betrayed our country, our parliament and my party”.

“He lied repeatedly to my staff when requested about his relationship with Epstein earlier than and through his tenure as ambassador,” he continued. “I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.”

But the scandal has left him under relentless pressure from across the political spectrum of his party, with some insisting nothing but a “root and branch” overhaul on the centre of Downing Street will do.

On Thursday, Harriet Harman, former deputy chief of the Labour Party, warned Sir Keir that he should take motion over the scandal or danger shedding his job. Baroness Harman advised Sky News: “I think it is so serious for Keir Starmer. I don’t think it’s inevitable that it will bring him down.

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“But it will bring him down, unless he takes the action that is really necessary for him to take, and that’s this: firstly, he’s got to stop blaming Mandelson, and saying ‘He lied to me.’ Because actually, he should never have been considering him in the first place.”

Ian Byrne, who sits on the left-wing of the Labour social gathering, mentioned Sir Keir “needs a miracle” if he’s to remain as chief amid furore over his dealing with of Lord Mandelson’s hyperlinks to Epstein.

He advised Sky News the prime minister has “got to reflect on his position. You know, he’s an intelligent man”.

“And he wants a miracle. He wants one thing to show it round.”

Others have pointed the finger at his chief of employees Morgan McSweeney, insisting he pushed for the appointment of his ally Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.

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Labour backbencher Karl Turner added: “If McSweeney is still in 10 Downing Street, the PM is up against it.”

Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has expressed remorse over giving Lord Peter Mandelson a cupboard job following allegations he leaked delicate authorities info to Jeffrey Epstein.

Writing in The Guardian on Friday, the previous prime minister mentioned he takes duty for Lord Mandelson’s appointment in 2008, however added he didn’t know the disgraced Lord’s connections to Epstein.

Hayley Sewart, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, mentioned: “I can confirm that officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime team are in the process of carrying out search warrants at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area.

“The searches are related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offences, involving a 72-year-old man. He has not been arrested and enquiries are ongoing.”