Here’s everything that’s confirmed and currently known about the reported police inquiry into Peter Mandelson and whether he may have broken rules or laws while in government.
What the police are actually doing right now
At this stage, there is no formal criminal charge against Lord Mandelson — but the Metropolitan Police are actively reviewing multiple reports that have been submitted concerning allegations of misconduct in public office.
The force has publicly said it is examining whether these reports meet the threshold for a criminal investigation.
Police have not yet opened a full investigation in the legal sense, but they are looking closely at the evidence that has emerged from the so-called “Epstein files” and assessing whether there’s enough to pursue criminal wrongdoing.
Metropolitan Police Commander Ella Marriott has confirmed they have received numerous reports relating to alleged misconduct in public office, and each one will be looked at to see whether it justifies a deeper inquiry.
Why police are reviewing the allegations
The controversy centers on emails and documents released in recent months by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the massive Epstein document release.
These include correspondence that suggest:
• Mandelson forwarded internal government material to Jeffrey Epstein in 2009, at a time when he was serving as Business Secretary under Gordon Brown.
• Some of the emails contain highly sensitive governmental information, including market and economic planning details from the period of the global financial crisis.
It’s these alleged leaks — from official channels to a private individual with no formal role — that have triggered the police assessment. If the police conclude that the reports meet the legal standards, they could open a formal criminal investigation.
Is this a crime under UK law?
The key legal concept at play is “misconduct in public office”, a serious offence in UK law which covers elected officials or public servants who misuse their position for improper purposes or without lawful authority.
Police are checking whether the evidence is strong enough to satisfy the threshold for this offence.
If it is, the next step might be a full criminal investigation and potentially charges.
If not, the file could be closed without further action.
So far, police have only said they are reviewing reports, not that they have launched an investigation.
Political and official actions feeding into the review
Alongside the police will review:
The UK government had itself referred material to the police.
The Cabinet Office passed files to the Metropolitan Police after internal review, meaning ministers have proactively provided documents for evaluation.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the alleged actions as “disgraceful” and has signalled strong support for police to pursue the matter.
There’s also legislative momentum in Westminster aimed at stripping Mandelson of his peerage if he does not resign voluntarily. Draft legislation was reportedly being prepared to do that “as quickly as possible.”
Mandelson himself has resigned from the Labour Party and from his House of Lords role amid the pressure.
What Mandelson has said
Lord Mandelson has publicly acknowledged regret over his association with Epstein, and he denies wrongdoing. He says he has “no record or recollection” of some alleged payments and disputes interpretations of the documents.
His statement so far suggests cooperation and a willingness to see the matter properly examined — but he has not admitted to criminal conduct.
Where things stand now
It must be remembered and to be crystal clear:
🔹 Police are reviewing reports, not running a full criminal investigation (yet).
🔹 That review could lead to a formal investigation if they judge there’s enough evidence.
🔹 This is a big escalation from political fallout — it is the first time police involvement has been publicly acknowledged.
🔹 The situation remains fluid, and further developments are possible as authorities decide on next steps.