Lindsay Hoyle passed information to police before Mandelson arrest as lawyers call flight‑risk claim baseless

lindsay hoyle has confirmed he passed information to the police that suggested Lord Mandelson could be a flight risk, saying he acted in good faith. The disclosure comes as the peer’s lawyers have complained about the force’s decision to arrest him on Monday amid an ongoing probe into alleged misconduct in public office.

lindsay hoyle says he passed relevant information in his duty

The Commons Speaker told MPs he had passed on what he judged to be relevant material and framed the move as a duty and responsibility. He described it as regrettable that the matter rapidly ended up in the media and did not provide full details in his statement.

It is understood the information originated in the British Virgin Islands during a visit last week and suggested Lord Mandelson was planning to travel there. The force is understood to have conducted its own assessment of the credibility of the information before deciding to arrest Lord Mandelson on Monday afternoon.

Separately, it is understood Lord Forsyth, the Speaker of the House of Lords, was twice told by police that the referral came from him; Lord Forsyth has described suggestions of his involvement as entirely false and without foundation.

Why Mandelson's lawyers call the flight‑risk claim baseless

Lawyers for Lord Mandelson have said the suggestion he was planning to leave the country and take up permanent residence abroad is without foundation. They say he had agreed to attend an interview next month on a voluntary basis and that the arrest was prompted by what they call a baseless claim that he would leave the UK.

The legal team has written to the police asking what information and evidence underpinned the decision to arrest their client. They maintain Lord Mandelson’s position is that he has not acted criminally, was not motivated by financial gain, and intends to cooperate with the investigation to clear his name.

Police action, arrest and bail details

Lord Mandelson was arrested at his London home on Monday and taken to Wandsworth police station for interview. He was held at the station for nine hours and was released on bail in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It is understood he surrendered his passport as one of his bail conditions, and he has been bailed to the end of May.

The arrest followed search warrants executed at two addresses, in Wiltshire and Camden. The detention was carried out by officers from the central specialist crime division of the Metropolitan Police. Consultations between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service are ongoing.

On arrival at his home, plain‑clothes officers led Lord Mandelson away and put him into the back of an unmarked car before transport to the station.

Wider probe: allegations linked to Epstein and career consequences

The force launched an investigation earlier this month into allegations that, while he served as a minister, Lord Mandelson had passed market‑sensitive government information to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The investigation underpins the current inquiries and the recent operational activity.

Lord Mandelson’s position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and was not motivated by financial gain. His lawyers have emphasised his intention to cooperate with police to clear his name.

It is also noted that Lord Mandelson became the British ambassador to the US in February 2025 but was later sacked in September after new information emerged about the depth of his relationship with Epstein.

Parliamentary backdrop and other business

The arrest came ahead of prime ministerial questions; the prime minister faced his first session since the former ambassador’s detention. Parliamentary business on the same day also addressed separate security and social issues.

In Manchester, a man believed to be in his 40s and described as white was arrested at Manchester Central Mosque after entering the property with another man, described as black, carrying an axe in a bag at around 8. 40pm on Tuesday during Ramadan prayers. No one was injured, no threats were made, and the incident is not being treated as terror‑related. The mosque described the event as a serious security incident and said security staff acted quickly to raise the alarm. The prime minister expressed concern, thanked volunteers and emergency services for their response, and reiterated that up to £40m has been provided for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres to help communities feel safe.

Meanwhile, the children's minister issued an apology after comments that fostering "isn't work, it isn't a job, it's not employment" sparked backlash. The minister, Josh McAlister, said the phrasing was clunky, that he understood why foster carers felt the comments did not reflect the value and respect they deserve, and that care‑experienced people had told him sometimes they felt adults caring for them were "doing a job" rather than offering a sense of family, belonging and commitment.

What happens next

The police investigation and consultations with prosecutors will continue while Lord Mandelson remains on bail until the end of May. Questions from lawyers about the evidential basis for the arrest remain outstanding, and public and parliamentary scrutiny of the sequence of referrals and the decision to arrest are likely to continue as the inquiry progresses. Recent updates indicate details may evolve as police and prosecutors complete their assessments.