Mandelson’s conduct with Epstein ‘unequivocally wrong’ and ‘far below standard expected of any minister’, Jones says
Jones says Jeffrey Epstein was “a despicable criminal who committed disgusting crimes and destroyed the lives of countless women and girls”.
He goes on:
On Friday, the Department of Justice in the United States released around 3 million pages from the case files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
It is increasingly clear that his awful crimes involved and were facilitated by many, often powerful people, both by actively participating in the crimes but also by failing to hear those victims’ voices, by equalting wealth with integrity, and by not using one’s privileged position to speak out.
He says it is incument on people who hold elected office to behave in a way that builds up trust.
He says the documents highlighted Epstein’s relationship with Peter Mandelson.
For the avoidance of doubt, this information was not known by the government until the release of documents by the Department of Justice on Friday.
The nature of the documents also raised serious concerns about Peter Mandelson’s behaviour.
Whilst Peter Mandelson must account for his actions and conduct, it is an understatement to say that his decision to continue a close relationship with a convicted paedophile, including discussing private government business, falls far below the standards expected of any minister. His behaviour was unequivocally wrong and an insult to the women and girls who suffered.
No government minister of any political party should have, nor ever should behave in this way.
Jones says the PM has ordered the cabinet secretary to investigate Mandelson’s contacts with Epstein when he was a cabinet minister and “to report back to him as a matter of urgency”.
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WhatsApp messages seen by BBC News appear to show small group of Labour MPs criticising the government’s handling of the row over Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Earlier today, officials from Number 10 outlined the government’s position on the matter in a WhatsApp group of Labour MPs.
They said: “It’s right that Peter Mandelson has resigned from the Labour party and had he not done so, the party was actively looking at what action could be taken.”
One Labour MP replied: “That line on Peter Mandelson is no way strong enough.”
Another said: “Agree. Surely had he not resigned the party would have suspended him pending expulsion given the seriousness of conduct.”
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UK and EU set to agree youth mobility scheme within months
The EU are aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme within months, in time for a joint summit later this year, PA reports.
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and European commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said both sides would seek to conclude talks in time for the annual summer after a meeting in London on Monday. There has not yet been a date announced for the second EU-UK summit, however it is thought it could take place in late spring or early summer.
Prime minister Keir Starmer has expressed a desire for each of the summits, established as part of the Government’s so-called “reset” of post-Brexit relations with Brussels, to bring with it new agreements.
A youth mobility scheme would make it easier for young people in the UK to work for a period in EU countries and vice versa. It is one of the areas that have been a key European demand in reaching an economic deal with Britain.
Last year, chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Times that a youth mobility scheme would be “good for the economy, good for growth and good for business”, but stopped short of specifying who would be eligible.
In a joint statement after the latest meeting of the EU-UK Partnership Council, the two sides said: “The UK and the EU recalled that the Common Understanding led to a number of negotiations for new agreements.
“They aim to conclude by the time of the next EU-UK summit the negotiations on the youth experience scheme, on establishing a common sanitary and phytosanitary area and on linking their emissions trading systems.”
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In the Commons Richard Foord (Lib Dem) asked if there was any further evidence of Peter Mandelson lobbying against the interests of the government when he was in office.
Jones said an investigation is taking place. He said any minister acting like that now would be “quickly dismissed”.
That is all from me for today. Aneesa Ahmed is now taking over.
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Andrew Murrison (Con) said it is rare for non-diplomats to be appointed ambassadors. When people like this are appointed, the PM must take responsibility. He suggested this reflected very badly on Keir Starmer.
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Chris Law (SNP) said Labour has been promising Lords reform for more than 100 years. He told Jones that the Lords should be abolished instead.
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Alicia Kearns (Con) said Jones was wrong to say that Tories did not object to Peter Mandelson being made an ambassador. She objected, she said.
She asked if Mandelson was given a severance payment after he was sacked.
Jones said he would ensure that Kearns got a reply to the letter she sent to the Cabinet Office about this.
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Tom Tugendhat (Con) said that Peter Mandelson was not the only member of the Lords with connections to a convicted paedophile. He said the same could be said of Matthew Doyle, Keir Stamer’s former communications chief who was recently made a peer.
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Ministers should be demanding criminal investigation into Mandelson, says Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick
Back in the Commons Robert Jenrick, the former shadow justice secretary who has now joined Reform UK, said he was surprised that Jones was not able to announce legislation removing Mandelson’s peerage. He also said the government should be going to the police and demanding a criminal investigation.
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the PM, said that, when Jenrick was a Conservative party member and Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the US, the Tories did not object to the appointment.
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Aide whose memo to Brown was leaked to Epstein says Mandelson’s conduct ‘very disappointing and shocking’
Nick Butler, a former adviser to Gordon Brown who wrote one of the memos leaked by Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein (see 12.41pm), told Times Radio that he was very disappointed to learn what the then business secretary had done.
Butler said:
I find these revelations very disappointing and shocking. When you work in Number 10, you work in an environment where there has to be complete trust so that people can debate and kick around ideas completely openly.
I don’t think any of the people who I worked with would have expected that a very senior minister like Peter would be sending on our notes instantly to someone outside the government, presumably so that they could make money. I feel very let down by Peter.
Butler said there should be a full inquiry.
How many more messages on really important issues, important issues on which Epstein could have made a lot of money? How many messages were sent in that period?
Butler also said Mandelson should now permanently resign from the Lords.
Here is the exchange showing the memo being leaked.
Email exchange Photograph: Dan Neidle
And you can read the full Butler memo here.
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Christopher Chope (Con) said asked Jones if he agreed that the “deep involvement of Mandelson with Epstein” meant that Epstein’s victims may have included, not just women and girls, but “young men” too.
Jones said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on a hypothetical question of that kind.
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Simon Hoare (Con) urged the goverment to legislate to remove Mandelson’s peerage. He said a bill could be “rushed through this house in a day”; it would not have to be complex, he said.
Jones said there was already a queue of legislation waiting to be passed.
That was why the government thought it would be better for Lords to put in place a new system that could apply to all peers, he said.
(But Jones is referring to a process that would allow the authorities to remove people from the Lords. MPs want a process to remove Mandelson’s peerage. The two sanctions are not the same.)
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Jones implies Mandelson lied in his declaration of interests before his appointment as ambassador
Clive Efford (Lab) asked Jones who advised the PM before he was made an ambassador.
Jones said the goverment had strengthened the appoinments process.
But he went on to imply Mandelson lied before his appointment when he submitted a declaration of interests.
The key thing, though, is when someone lies in their declaration of interests, there must be a consequence.
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Updated at 18.24 CET
Max Wilkinson, the Lib Dem spokesperson, said that Mandelson should lose his peerage. He also asked why Mandelson was being allowed to remain a member of the privy council.
Jones claimed the Commons has taken efforts to modernise its disciplinary procedures i in recent years. But the House of Lords has not, he said. He said that was why the government has written to the Lords authorities urging them to act.
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Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs committee, said that Mandelson should be investigated by the police.
Jones said criminal investigations were a matter for the police and the CPS.
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Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, replied to Darren Jones on behalf of the Conservatives. After condemning Mandelson, he asked why Keir Starmer was not properly told about Mandelson’s links with Epstein before he was made an ambassador.
Jones said that Mandelson was responsible for his own conduct. And he said Labour was using vetting procedures it inherited from the Conservatives.
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Jones urges Tories to join cross-party bid to change Lords rules so peers like Mandelson can be removed
Jones told MPs that Keir Starmer is “calling on all political parties, including the Conservatives as the largest party in the House of Lords, to work with the government to modernise the disciplinary procedures to allow for removal of peers who have brought the House of Lords into disrepute”.
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Mandelson’s conduct with Epstein ‘unequivocally wrong’ and ‘far below standard expected of any minister’, Jones says
Jones says Jeffrey Epstein was “a despicable criminal who committed disgusting crimes and destroyed the lives of countless women and girls”.
He goes on:
On Friday, the Department of Justice in the United States released around 3 million pages from the case files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
It is increasingly clear that his awful crimes involved and were facilitated by many, often powerful people, both by actively participating in the crimes but also by failing to hear those victims’ voices, by equalting wealth with integrity, and by not using one’s privileged position to speak out.
He says it is incument on people who hold elected office to behave in a way that builds up trust.
He says the documents highlighted Epstein’s relationship with Peter Mandelson.
For the avoidance of doubt, this information was not known by the government until the release of documents by the Department of Justice on Friday.
The nature of the documents also raised serious concerns about Peter Mandelson’s behaviour.
Whilst Peter Mandelson must account for his actions and conduct, it is an understatement to say that his decision to continue a close relationship with a convicted paedophile, including discussing private government business, falls far below the standards expected of any minister. His behaviour was unequivocally wrong and an insult to the women and girls who suffered.
No government minister of any political party should have, nor ever should behave in this way.
Jones says the PM has ordered the cabinet secretary to investigate Mandelson’s contacts with Epstein when he was a cabinet minister and “to report back to him as a matter of urgency”.
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