Getty ImagesMPs have approved the release of documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, after angry Labour backbenchers forced a government climbdown over plans to withhold some material.Sir Keir Starmer told a dramatic Commons session he wanted to release the files – which could show what the government knew about Lord Mandelson's relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein – but insisted he would not publish anything that could damage national security or diplomatic relations.That position unravelled after senior Labour figures, including former deputy leader Angela Rayner, urged ministers to change course, forcing the government to agree to involve a cross-party parliamentary committee in the process.The prime minister has been under pressure to disclose the files after police launched a criminal investigation into claims Lord Mandelson passed sensitive government information to Epstein.Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador last year after new revelations about his friendship with Epstein came to light.Emails released by the US Department of Justice appear to confirm Lord Mandelson's friendship with Epstein continued, and even flourished, after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir told the Commons he was misled about the "sheer depth and extent" of Lord Mandelson's relationship with Epstein."He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him," he said. "If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government."The prime minister added he was aware of the former business secretary's ongoing friendship with Epstein, a convicted paedophile who died in 2019, when he appointed him last year, adding fuel to the already simmering fury on the Labour backbenches.Mandelson lied repeatedly to my team, Starmer saysConservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of trying to "sabotage" the disclosure process, adding: "This is not about national security, this is about his job security."Later, a dramatic debate in the Commons ended with MPs backing proposals to release the Mandelson documents without a vote.Sir Keir had agreed to a Conservative demand to release some papers about Lord Mandelson's appointment and the "due diligence" conducted by No 10 beforehand.But some MPs were furious that some documents might be withheld on national security grounds, with some accusing the government of a cover up.In a last-minute concession towards the end of the debate, after Rayner and several other Labour MPs intervened, the government agreed that sensitive documents would be referred to Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC).That it was Rayner who led the opposition demonstrated the power the former deputy prime minister has on the party's backbenches, and reminded Downing Street she is willing to wield it.Who is Peter Mandelson?Mandelson offered to help Epstein get Russian visa, documents suggest'I never left your side': Emails reveal more about Mandelson's Epstein friendshipCabinet Office minister Chris Ward said the government wanted to publish documents about the decision to hire Lord Mandelson as quickly as possible, without setting out a specific timeline, adding that the cabinet secretary would lead the process.But he said there would have to be discussions with the Metropolitan Police about what material could be released publicly at this stage.In a statement released while MPs were debating the Mandelson documents in Parliament, the police force said it had told the government not to release "certain documents" that could undermine its investigation.The extent of the anger among Labour MPs appears to have taken the government by surprise and bounced ministers into giving the committee of MPs a role – and left Sir Keir with his authority severely weakened.The prime minister's public admission that he knew Lord Mandelson had continued his relationship with Epstein after his conviction for child sex offences, long implied but now confirmed, crystallised anger among Labour MPs.Watch: Gasps as PM confirms vetting mentioned Epstein and Mandelson’s linksSpeaking to ITV's Peston, Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said appointing Lord Mandelson was a "catastrophic misjudgement", adding there are "huge questions to be answered" by Sir Keir. She said it is up to the prime minister to "outline what he's going to do to restore integrity, and he's got a job on his hands". Labour MP Barry Gardiner said Sir Keir tried to "duck…and hide behind process" during the Commons session, and instead should have swiftly admitted appointing Lord Mandelson was a mistake."We were squirming… The backbenchers on the Labour benches were just going, oh for God's sake, get on with it," Gardiner told BBC's Newsnight.When asked if Sir Keir should step down, he said: "I think he needs to think very hard about what is in the country's best interest."The prime minister's defence is that Lord Mandelson lied about the extent and nature of that relationship. He "presented Epstein as someone he barely knew", a Downing Street source said.The Conservative motion to release some documents was intended to maximise embarrassment for Labour, to force the release of a wide range of material, including any emails and text messages sent by Lord Mandelson to ministers and Sir Keir's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.Badenoch said her party had "forced Number 10 to come clean"."The prime minister signed off this appointment, this was not an accident, it was a choice," Badenoch said.Lord Mandelson faces an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office, after claims he sent market-sensitive government information to Epstein whilst a cabinet minister in Gordon Brown's New Labour government.Emails released by the US Department of Justice on Friday suggest Mandelson forwarded Epstein an internal Downing Street memo in 2009 discussing possible government asset sales.Lord Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment, but the BBC understands his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.Emails published in the tranche of documents appear to show he gave Epstein advance notice of a €500bn bailout by the EU to save the Euro in 2010.Other emails suggest Epstein made $75,000 in payments to Lord Mandelson in three separate $25,000 transactions in 2003 and 2004. Lord Mandelson has said he has no record or recollection of the payments.Lord Mandelson has apologised for continuing the friendship with Epstein after the financier's conviction in 2008, adding he believed "lies he told me and so many others".The peer, who gave up his Labour Party membership over the weekend, has also retired from the House of Lords.The government is drafting legislation required to formally remove his title, whilst Sir Keir also confirmed steps would be taken to remove his lifetime membership of the Privy Council, which he holds as a former minister. What do emails between Mandelson and Epstein say?Chris Mason: Mandelson revelations a scandal on another levelKeir StarmerUK ParliamentJeffrey Epstein
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