Mandelson’s attorneys slams police over ‘fears he would flee UK’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Lord Mandelson has claimed he was arrested over the “complete fiction” he was getting ready to flee to the Caribbean. The former Labour minister who was appointed as US Ambassador by Sir Keir Starmer earlier than being ousted over his hyperlinks to the convicted American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein made the sensational declare after his arrest final evening.

He claimed that the Metropolitan Police power had supposed to interview him in two weeks time, relatively than collar him over claims he had handed the financier secret authorities paperwork. Scotland Yard was informed on Monday that claims have been circulating that the so-called ‘Prince of Darkness’ was plotting to bolt for the British Virgin Islands.

Met Officers arrested him on Monday afternoon that he had been held for 9 hours earlier than being launched on bail early Tuesday morning. The disgraced Blair-era grandee reportedly informed associates he had agreed with the police to offer a voluntary interview in early March, including that he was arrested as a result of “they claimed […] that I was about to flee to the British Virgin Islands and take up permanent residence abroad”.

Lord Mandelson, in keeping with the Times newspaper, lamented to friends that he must depart his canine and his husband behind if he did make a break for it. He reportedly mentioned: “I need hardly say complete fiction. The police were told only today that they had to improvise an arrest. The question is, who or what is behind this?”

He has denied wrongdoing. Both Lord Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who final week grew to become the primary member of the royal household in centuries to be arrested, have each been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who was disadvantaged of his title by the King, has additionally denied wrongdoing and was arrested Thursday final week.

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A spokesman for the legislation agency Mishcon de Reya, who’re performing on behalf of Lord Mandelson mentioned: “Peter Mandelson was arrested yesterday [Monday] despite an agreement with the police that he would attend an interview next month on a voluntary basis. The arrest was prompted by a baseless suggestion that he was planning to leave the country and take up permanent residence abroad.

“There is totally no fact in any way in any such suggestion. We have requested the MPS for the proof relied upon to justify the arrest. Peter Mandelson’s overriding precedence is to cooperate with the police investigation, as he has carried out all through this course of, and to clear his title.”

The Met declined to remark.