Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations that he leaked Downing Street emails to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as business secretary. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 72-year-old man was arrested at a London address and taken to a police station for questioning, after officers executed search warrants at two properties connected to the investigation.
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The inquiry was launched after documents released by the United States Department of Justice, relating to Epstein, included emails from 2009 that allegedly showed the sharing of market-sensitive information. The material is said to involve an assessment of potential policy measures during Gordon Brown’s premiership. Lord Mandelson, who has previously denied any wrongdoing, resigned from the House of Lords earlier this year.
Police said the arrest followed searches in Wiltshire and Camden and that investigations remain ongoing. The Crown Prosecution Service has not yet provided early investigative advice. The Cabinet Office had previously referred material to police after an internal review suggested that safeguards may have been compromised.
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The case has prompted political reaction, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch describing the arrest as a significant moment for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, given Lord Mandelson’s former appointment as UK ambassador to the United States. The government has confirmed that the release of some related documents will be delayed due to the active police investigation, while insisting that it is acting to avoid interference with legal proceedings.
