British police executed search warrants at two properties belonging to Labour grandee Peter Mandelson as part of a criminal investigation into alleged misconduct in public office connected to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking an unprecedented escalation in the scandal engulfing UK elites.
Story Snapshot
- Metropolitan Police searched Mandelson’s Camden and Wiltshire homes on February 6, 2026, seizing boxes of evidence in a misconduct probe linked to Jeffrey Epstein
- Investigation centers on allegations Mandelson leaked market-sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as Business Secretary after the 2008 financial crisis
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure after appointing Mandelson as US Ambassador despite warnings about Epstein connections, later forced to sack him
- Labour MPs demand resignations and accountability as the scandal exposes catastrophic vetting failures that potentially compromised national security
Police Raids Target Labour Power Broker’s Properties
Metropolitan Police officers from the Central Specialist Crime Team executed search warrants at Peter Mandelson’s north London residence in Camden and his Wiltshire property on February 6, 2026. Plain-clothed officers wearing body cameras removed multiple boxes from the Camden home and examined vehicles on the property. The 72-year-old former cabinet minister, known by his political moniker “Prince of Darkness,” was not arrested during the searches. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart confirmed the investigation remains ongoing, marking the first time UK police have raided a politician’s properties in connection with the Epstein scandal.
Misconduct Allegations Stem From Epstein File Releases
The criminal investigation originates from recently released Epstein files suggesting Mandelson shared confidential market-sensitive information with the disgraced financier while serving as Business Secretary following the 2008 financial crisis. These allegations represent a significant departure from previous Epstein-related scrutiny of UK figures, which focused primarily on personal associations rather than potential breaches of public duty. The files, released in phases between 2024 and 2026, documented Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, including photographs from 2011 and evidence of contact after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. This case uniquely implicates government appointment processes and raises serious questions about national security protocols.
Starmer Government Faces Credibility Crisis Over Vetting Failures
Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the United States in 2024 despite explicit warnings from Labour peer Lord Glasman about the Epstein connections. Lord Glasman revealed he alerted Downing Street in September 2025 but was reportedly told to “shut up” by officials. Starmer sacked Mandelson from the ambassadorial role in 2025 after partial Epstein files emerged, publicly apologizing on February 5, 2026, for believing what he characterized as “lies.” The appointment and subsequent cover-up attempts demonstrate the kind of elite corruption and incompetence that Americans rejected when they voted to drain the swamp. This scandal mirrors the failures of accountability that frustrated voters on both sides of the Atlantic have grown weary of tolerating.
Document Delays Fuel Suspicions of Government Cover-Up
Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee demanded all vetting documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, but Starmer’s government delayed their release citing “national security” concerns and the need to coordinate with the ongoing police investigation. In a February 6 letter to the ISC, Starmer acknowledged a “very significant volume of material” requiring review, committing to release documents “shortly” with appropriate security safeguards. Downing Street confirmed tens of thousands of files remain under assessment by the Cabinet Secretary. Labour MPs Simon Opher, Clive Efford, and others have demanded the resignation of Starmer’s Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, a Mandelson ally, calling the scandal evidence of systemic failures at Number 10. Former Labour minister Harriet Harman warned Starmer needs a “real reset” to save his premiership as the government’s credibility crumbles.
Mandelson stepped down from the Labour Party and House of Lords following the police searches but has made no public comment regarding the allegations. His lengthy political career includes two previous forced resignations from cabinet positions in 1998 over a loan scandal and in 2001 regarding the Hinduja passport affair, establishing a pattern of ethical lapses among Labour’s ruling class. The current investigation represents far more serious potential criminal liability than his past controversies, as misconduct in public office carries significant penalties when proven. The broader implications extend beyond one politician’s conduct to fundamental questions about how thoroughly political elites are vetted before receiving positions of trust and access to sensitive government information that could affect markets, national security, and international relations.
Sources:
Police search Peter Mandelson’s properties in Camden and Wiltshire – Sky News
