Here is what the Mandelson files reveal — so far

The first set of disclosures show the former ambassador got a payout of £75,000 — but asked for north of £500,000 after he was dismissed.

LONDON — The U.K government has published the first tranche of its long-awaited files relating to the appointment of its former ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, following the revelations about his association with the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson was sacked as Britain’s top Washington diplomat in September last year, with further revelations prompting a police investigation into his conduct, which led to his arrest last month. He has not been charged, and his lawyers have said he is cooperating with the investigation and his overriding priority is to clear his name. He has previously apologized “unequivocally” for his association with Epstein and “to the women and girls that suffered.”

The files shed new light on how Mandelson was appointed to the role. POLITICO last month revealed serious concerns from current and former security officials about the process that appointed him.

Here is what POLITICO has found in the files — so far.

Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risks’

Keir Starmer was warned about the reputational risk of Peter Mandelson’s “close relationship” with Jeffrey Epstein in a 2019 report compiled by multinational bank JP Morgan.

Ahead of appointing Mandelson to be Britain’s ambassador to the U.S. in December 2024, the British PM was warned of the “reputational risks” from the former British business minister and Labour politician’s long-time relationship with the disgraced financier.

The key findings of the report were shared in a due diligence checklist with Starmer on Dec. 11, days before he appointed Mandelson to the top diplomatic post on Dec. 20.

The 2019 report commissioned by JPMorgan found Epstein appeared to “maintain a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government.”

Mandelson wanted a payout of more than £500K

Mandelson asked for a severance payment of more than £500,000 when he was sacked as Britain’s ambassador to Washington last September — he got £75,000.

Internal Foreign Office emails show the ex-ambassador got £40,330 “in lieu of three months’ notice” — and a special severance payment of £34,670.

He asked for a payout of the remainder of his full salary — £161,318 a year over the four-year term — which “would have amounted to £547,201.”

Top Foreign Office official Olly Robbins described the final payout as “good value for money” in a message to Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray in October.

The ex-ambassador’s UK return was delayed by his pet dog

Mandelson demanded help from the U.K. Foreign Office in sparing his blushes, and limiting negative press attention following his departure from the top diplomatic post.

In an email to a senior department HR official he wrote that his “chief concern” centred on how he would depart the U.S. and arrive in the U.K. with “the maximum dignity and minimum media intrusion which I think is to the advantage of all concerned.”

“I remain a crown/civil servant and expected to be treated as such,” he said in the email.

Mandelson also revealed his U.K. return date was set back because of delays in obtaining a veterinary certificate for his pet dog, Jock.

Mandelson’s positive views on Nigel Farage were flagged

A suggestion from Mandelson that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage could be used to improve U.S.-U.K. relations was flagged as another “reputational risk” for the government.

In the lengthy “reputational risks” section of the Cabinet Office’s due diligence checklist on Mandelson, carried out before his appointment, the ex-ambassador’s views on Farage are listed along with his links to Epstein.

“Has suggested using Nigel Farage to better U.K. connections with the Trump administration,” reads the vetting document, which was presented to Starmer on Dec. 11, 2024. 

It includes a quote from Mandelson while speaking on a Times Radio podcast in November 2024 — and noted that his position contradicted the Labour government’s stance.

It goes on: “Mandelson quoted saying of Farage, contrary to [U.K. government] policy: ‘You can’t ignore him, he’s an elected member of parliament. He’s a public figure. He’s a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others … National interest is served in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways.’”

Mandelson never appeared to involve Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK and one of Trump’s closest allies in the U.K., in his efforts to build ties once appointed.

Trump did not try to block Mandelson as envoy

Donald Trump’s team did not raise any major objections over Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, the documents suggest.

An email from Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to Downing Street in January 2025 outlined that Karen Pierce, the outgoing ambassador, had spoken to Trump’s then-national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and there was “no suggestion that Peter’s nomination was an issue” with Trump.

Robbins added he would proceed with arranging an audience with the King for Mandelson — part of the official initiation process.

It’s previously been reported that Trump, who invited Pierce as a guest to the banquet held in his honor at last year’s State Visit, wanted her to remain in post. 

PM’s comms chief was ‘satisfied’ over Epstein link responses

Starmer’s former Director of Communications, Matthew Doyle, was said to be “satisfied” with Peter Mandelson’s responses when questioned about his contact with Epstein, the documents suggest.

In a note sent to the prime minister on Dec. 11, 2024, which included a copy of the due diligence review into Mandelson’s background, Starmer was told his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, had also “discussed Peter’s relationship with Jeffery [sic] Epstein.”

The note added: “But your Director of Communications is satisfied with his responses to questions about contact.”

Officials flagged Mandelson’s Russia links 

The Cabinet Office highlighted Mandelson’s former role at a company with links to the Russian military ahead of his appointment.

The department’s due diligence report flagged the former non-executive director role at Sistema, which is a shareholder of the defense company RTI. The report pointed out that RTI produced technology “for Russia’s land-based missile early warning system,” and described Sistema’s chairman as a “Putin ally.”

This link was not listed in the reputational risks section, but was included in part of the report titled “internet searches.”

Mandelson remained on Sistema’s board until June 2017 “long after Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014,” the document said.

Mandelson’s extensively-reported relationship with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska was not flagged.

Ex-Tory Chancellor George Osborne was in the running

Due diligence checks on an “alternative political candidate” for U.K. ambassador to Washington appear to have been sought before the decision was taken to appoint Mandelson.

A U.K. government official, granted anonymity to speak frankly, confirmed to POLITICO that “alternative candidate” was George Osborne, the former Conservative chancellor.

The “alternative” candidate is mentioned in a box note sent by Nin Pandit, Starmer’s then principal private secretary, to the PM on Dec. 11, 2024 — nine days before Mandelson was announced as the government’s pick.

It suggests Osborne — once a political enemy of Starmer’s Labour Party — was seriously considered for the role that eventually went to Mandelson.

Jonathan Powell said appointment was ‘weirdly rushed’

Starmer’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, claimed to have raised concerns about Mandelson directly with Starmer’s ex-chief of staff McSweeney — but was told they had been addressed.

A freshly published document appears to show details of a fact-finding call between Starmer’s General Counsel Mike Ostheimer and Powell about the appointment process, which took place the day after Mandelson’s sacking.

A summary of the discussion says that Powell, a veteran government adviser, found the process “unusual” and “weirdly rushed.”

According to the document, Powell disclosed that he had raised concerns directly with the prime minister’s then-chief of staff McSweeney about the “individual and reputation,” but was told those issues had been “addressed.”

No. 10 asked for daily ‘welfare check’ on Mandelson

A No. 10 official appears to have requested a daily “welfare check” on Mandelson.

The request came as Starmer prepared to give in to opposition demands to release files relating to his appointment and time as ambassador to Washington.

“It would also be great to know that there has been a welfare check and to do one each day if that’s OK for a while,” said an email from Ailsa Terry, a No.10 private secretary for foreign affairs, to an official working in human resources.

That email was sent on Feb. 4, shortly after the government promised to release the texts, emails and documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador.

Christian Turner was pre-approved for the job in 2024

Mandelson’s replacement as ambassador to Washington was pre-approved for the job nearly two years ago, two people with knowledge of the appointment process told POLITICO.

The files released on Wednesday confirm that two unnamed government officials were found “appointable” following a recruitment process in April 2024.

The lead candidate, whom Starmer’s Tory predecessor Rishi Sunak chose for the job, was his then-national security adviser Tim Barrow, said the two people with knowledge of the process, who spoke on condition of anonymity. This fact was widely reported at the time.

But the two people added that the runner-up was Christian Turner — who was then serving as political director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and is now Mandelson’s replacement as ambassador to Washington.

Starmer entered No. 10 in July 2024 and ripped up the previous process, with his first chief of staff, Sue Gray, running a recruitment process before she was replaced by McSweeney, and he moved to choose Mandelson instead.

After all that pain, it seems Starmer could have saved himself the trouble.

This is a developing story and will be updated.