Government Hands 'Evidence Mandelson Leaked Market Sensitive Information' To Police

Documents which suggest Peter Mandelson may have passed “market sensitive information” about the government’s response to the 2008 financial crash to Jeffrey Epstein have been handed to the police.

Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said the Cabinet Office had uncovered possible evidence that strict safeguards intended to prevent anyone potentially benefiting from the crisis “were compromised”.

It comes after the Metropolitan Police confirmed it was assessing whether or not Lord Mandelson may have broken the law in his communications with Epstein, a convicted paedophile who died in a prison cell in 2019.

Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington after it emerged he had maintained contact with his “best pal” Epstein even after the billionaire had been convicted of soliciting a child for prostitution.

A fresh batch of documents relating to Epstein released last week suggest Mandelson was passing on information to him when he was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government between 2008 and 2010.

That included a pledge to lobby ministers about possibly watering down the bankers’ bonus tax, and confirmation of an imminent bailout for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010.

The PM’s spokesman said: “An initial review of the documents released in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice has found that they contain likely market sensitive information surrounding the 2008 financial crash and official activities thereafter to stabilise the economy.

“Only people operating in an official capacity had access to this information and strict handling conditions to ensure it was not available to anyone who could potentially benefit from it financially.

“It appears these safeguards were compromised. In light if this information the Cabinet Office has referred this material to the police.

“It is rightly for the police to determine whether to investigate. The government stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance they need.”

It is understood the documents relate to the original emails sent between Mandelson and Epstein.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Keir Starmer said Mandelson “had let his country down”.

Meanwhile, the government is drawing up legislation “at pace” which would see Mandelson – who quit the Labour Party on Sunday night – stripped of his peerage.