Mandelson-Starmer latest: Rayner ‘warned PM’ over former Labour minister’s Epstein links after police search homes – UK Times

The searches into Lord Mandelson’s two properties have now concluded, the Metropolitan police have confirmed in a statement.

Deputy assistant commissioner, Hayley Sewart, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “I can confirm that officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime team have carried out searches at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area. The searches were related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offences, involving a 72-year-old man.

“He has not been arrested and enquiries are ongoing. This will be a complex investigation requiring a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis. It will take some time to do this work comprehensively and we will not be providing a running commentary.”

Starmer is facing pressure from his own party to step down as prime minister over his appointment of Lord Mandelson.

One Labour backbencher, Kim Johnson, an MP for Liverpool Riverside “I think he needs to seriously consider his position,” told Times Radio.

“He’s on the ropes and we have to think about the benefit of the country and the party. We have to consider the likelihood of what could happen, the stability of the country could be at stake.”

Last September, Starmer fired Mandelson from his position of US ambassador, but he remained in the Labour party.

Newly released emails from the Epstein files suggest that in 2009, Mandelson sent Jeffrey Epstein a memo written for Brown about possible UK asset sales and tax changes, and in 2010 gave Epstein an advance notice of a 500-billion-euro ($590 billion) bailout by the European Union.

These new revelations have stirred Starmer’s opponents and even those in his own party to question his judgement. Polls have suggested Starmer is already unpopular with the British public, and some lawmakers say his position is under threat.

Mandelson, who resigned from Starmer’s Labour Party on Sunday and since quit his position in parliament’s upper chamber on Tuesday, has not responded to messages seeking comment.

The Police launched their investigation on Tuesday following the receipt of reports alleging misconduct in public office, including a referral from the government.

Following the announcement of the investigation into Mandelson the government has said it stood “ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police need.”

With furious Labour MPs – and the country – baying for blood over Lord Mandelson’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the only thing keeping Keir Starmer in post has been uncertainty over his replacement – but that could be set to change.

The Independent’s Sonia Sodha shares her opinion:

Keir Starmer is under pressure to release information regarding his visit to Palantir’s showroom alongside Lord Mandelson.

Starmer and Mandelson met the company’s CEO Alex Karp and were shown the company’s military technology.

Conservative MP and shadow chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, Alex Burghart, urged the cabinet secretary Wormald to review Palantir’s latest MoD contract “given the allegations now coming to light about Mandelson’s conduct”.

Starmer’s meeting with Palantir was not documented in the prime minister’s register of visits and was only acknowledged after, Burghart said.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said Sir Keir Starmer’s situation is “serious” and suggested the Labour leader had been “too slow to do the right things” in reacting to the Peter Mandelson scandal.

But Mr Brown also praised Starmer as a “man of integrity” who had been “betrayed” by Lord Mandelson.

Starmer’s position is in danger because of his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador, despite knowing his friendship with disgraced financier Epstein continued after his conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.

Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I mean, there’s always speculation. It happened to me, it happened to Tony Blair. It happens to everybody about how their future should be gauged.

“But this is serious, and the task is very clear. The task is we’ve got to clean up the system, a total clean-up of the system, an end to the corruption and unethical behaviour.

“And if we don’t do it, we’ll pay a heavy price.”