Peter Mandelson — peter mandelson released on bail after arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office
peter mandelson has been released on bail, the Metropolitan Police says, hours after his arrest on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The force said a 72-year-old man was released pending further investigation and the saw Lord Mandelson returning to his London home at 02: 00 GMT.
Peter Mandelson arrested in Camden
Lord Mandelson was arrested at an address in Camden, north London, on Monday and taken to Wandsworth police station for interview. On Monday afternoon he was seen being led away from his London home by plain clothes officers who put him in the back of an unmarked car.
Searches in Wiltshire and Camden
The arrest followed search warrants at two addresses in Wiltshire and Camden, the police statement added. The understands his arrest was carried out by officers from the Met's central specialist crime division.
Investigation and bail details
The force launched an investigation earlier this month over allegations that, while he was serving as a government minister, Lord Mandelson had passed on market-sensitive government information to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Consultations between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service are ongoing.
Emails, 2009 note and 2010
The allegations against Lord Mandelson surfaced after the US Department of Justice released a tranche of documents last month, including emails between him and Epstein. An email from 2009 appears to show that Lord Mandelson passed on an assessment by an adviser to the then prime minister Gordon Brown about policy measures, including an "asset sales plan". He also appeared to discuss a tax on bankers' bonuses and confirm an imminent bailout package for the Euro on the day before it was announced in 2010.
Reactions and official statements
Lord Mandelson has not publicly commented in recent weeks on the Epstein files, but the understands his position is he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain. The force said a 72-year-old man was released pending further investigation.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Breakfast: "The government's intention is to disclose documents but we have to tread with some care in making sure that any documents we release don't jeopardise an ongoing police investigation. " She added: "There is a live investigation and when that happens it would be totally irresponsible to do anything that might put at risk their important work, but yes we are committed to transparency around all of this. "
Responding to Lord Mandelson's arrest, the family of the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse, said they "commend the British authorities for taking meaningful action and treating the Epstein files with the urgency they demand". The context notes that Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein.
, Sky and Amanda Roberts said: "The contrast with the continued inaction in the United States is undeniable. Survivors deserve transparency, swift investigation, and real justice, no matter who is implicated. "
Appointment documents and next steps
Lord Mandelson became the British ambassador to the US in February 2025 but was sacked in September after Downing Street said new information about the depth of his relationship with Epstein had emerged. The government has said it expects to release the first documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment in "early March".
Consultations between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service continue as the investigation proceeds; further details are unclear in the provided context.
