The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Lord Peter Mandelson over allegations of misconduct in public office, following claims he passed market-sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice appear to show Lord Mandelson shared information with Epstein while serving as business secretary under Gordon Brown in 2009.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The government stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police need.”
Downing Street said an initial review of the documents found they contained “likely market sensitive information surrounding the 2008 financial crash”.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown said the alleged correspondence was an “inexcusable and unpatriotic act at a time when the whole government and country were attempting to address the global financial crisis”.
In a statement, Met Police Commander Ella Marriott said: “I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told Cabinet that Lord Mandelson had “let his country down”, describing the alleged actions as “disgraceful”, and added he was “not reassured that the totality of the information had yet emerged”.
Lord Mandelson, who has said he did not act criminally or for financial gain, intends to resign from the House of Lords on Wednesday.