01 June 2026 , 18:57
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Peter Mandelson said the government would ‘never regret’ appointing him and attacked Keir Starmer’s leadership in private messages with Cabinet Ministers, the newly released Mandelson files show.
The government has published more than a thousand documents relating to the scandal-hit appointment of Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador.
The files reveal that the ‘Prince of Darkness’ refused to give his WhatsApp messages and other information from his personal phone as part of the publication process.
However, the tranche shows he sought to influence Cabinet Ministers and officials about government policy and critical appointments from behind-the-scenes.
Lammy ‘would never regret’ appointing him
The Labour big beast schmoozed the then Foreign Secretary David Lammy to persuade him to give him the Washington job.
He told Lammy: ‘I just wanted you to know that if you were minded to appoint me I would make sure you never regret it’.
Lord Mandelson continued that it would be a ‘huge honour’ to serve, adding: ‘If you are up for it, so am I’.
Attacks on Keir Starmer
Mandelson heavily criticizes his boss’ political resolve, accusing him of ‘consistently going for direction B’ and ‘recanting’ on issues like immigration, welfare and Gaza.
Mandelson said this reflects a historical cycle with Starmer: ‘advance/buckle/advance/buckle’.
Mandelson also accused the prime minister of ‘not leading from the front’ and complained the government lacks a ‘crusading’ spirit or sufficient ‘panache’ to change Britain.
He places blame squarely on PM: ‘It does start right from the top, I am afraid’.
Personal exchanges with Cabinet Ministers
Mandelson also exchanged a string of WhatsApp messages with other Labour cabinet members.
Recently resigned Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Mandelson exchanged many WhatsApps including a bizarre AI picture of Starmer as a postman.
Streeting, who is expected to launch a leadership challenge against Starmer, sent it to Mandelson saying ‘Love this’.
Peter Mandelson reacted with a ♥ emoji.
In another exchange between the pair, Streeting told Tony Blair’s strategist his fears for Labour in east London.
Streeting said: ‘I fear we’re in big trouble here – and I am toast at the next election.
‘We just lost our safest ward in Redbridge (51% Muslim, Ilford S) to a Gaza independent. At this rate I don’ t think we’ll hold either of the two Ilford seats.’
Nine minutes later, Mandelson replies: ‘The government doesn’t have an economic philosophy which is then followed through in a program of policies.’ Streeting agrees, hitting back ‘no growth strategy at all’.
Wes Streeting launches a passionate outburst about how Starmer needs to follow Macron and ‘up the ante’ on Israel who are ‘committing war crimes before our eyes’.
The next day Mandelson wrote to then senior minister Pat McFadden that he received a ‘wild long hysterical message from Wes [Streeting] about Israel’, adding it ‘reflects pretty badly on his maturity’.
He called the then Health Secretary ‘pathetic’ saying he was ‘experiencing an early midlife crisis’.
Douglas Alexander, Scotland Secretary who was then serving in the Department for Business and Trade, wrote to Lord Mandelson after his election to Parliament: ‘You probably don’t realize quite how influential you’ve been in this whole improbable journey’.
He added: ‘I would value your counsel on Trade’.
Mandelson also wrote to former transport secretary Louise Haigh to support her after she resigned from government over a historic fraud offense.
In a message to her on November 29, 2024 he said: ‘Lou, I am very sorry about this. You have been brave and loyal in your decision but it seems harsh given you were appointed in full knowledge.
‘But you have acted in a way that enables you to come back later and everything you say and do now should be done with that in mind. Strong and honorable.’
Mandelson also appeared to call the shots on a government appointment, despite having his own job as US Ambassador.
The then-Deputy Chief of Staff in Number 10 Vidhya Alakeson proposes a potential economic advisor for Sir Keir, to which Mandelson replies, ‘Good god, no.’
Mandelson then ‘strongly suggests’ Keir meets another candidate before a longer discussion about the vacancy.
Epstein Panic
After media requests came through after the release of the Epstein Files and the true extent of their friendship was revealed, Sir Olly Robbins is seen recommending him not do media interviews.
Mandelson did the interviews anyway before resigning his post 48 hours later.
Mandelson admits ‘large number’ of foreign national acquaintances
Emails in the files suggest Cabinet Office officials initially believed that the peer would not require developed vetting as he was already considered a ‘fit and proper person’ as a member of the House of Lords, but would still require Strap clearance.
But on December 23, 2024, an official from the Foreign Office said developed vetting would be required as the policy exempting peers and MPs ‘had not envisaged the unusual situation of MPs/Lords being appointed to ambassadorial positions’.
It emerged in April that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) had recommended against granting Lord Mandelson security clearance.
The Prime Minister was unaware when top Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins overruled that advice.
The Guardian has reported that his ties with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the vetting agency.
The newly released files show that Lord Mandelson admitted he had a ‘large number of personal acquaintances with foreign nationals’ during the security vetting process, but denied any of them were ‘close contacts’.
When the future US Ambassador was asked by a case assistant to fill in a foreign contacts form, he wrote: ‘I have a large number of personal acquaintances with foreign nationals but I would not describe these as current friendships or personal business connections.’
The caseworker continued to ask Mandelson to fill in the form, writing: ‘It is prudent that we obtain sufficient information about overseas contacts that we can be confident that any potential security risks are identified.’
Lord Mandelson has repeatedly let it be known that he believes he has not acted criminally, did not act for personal gain and is co-operating with the police.
Technology & Business Editor