UK’s top intelligence body warns Mandelson files being withheld by government

The top UK intelligence scrutiny body has warned that critical files on disgraced Labour politician Peter Mandelson are being withheld. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) said key documents related to the case had not been made available by Keir Starmer’s government.

The BBC reported on 15 May:

Lord Beamish, chair of the committee tasked with reviewing the documents, said Lord Mandelson’s vetting file was one example of a document that had been kept back.

He said the government may have good reasons to withhold some material but did not have the authority to do so and ministers should seek MPs’ approval to retain certain pieces of information.

Revelations about Labour grandee Mandelson’s long friendship with late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein have plunged the Starmer regime into crisis.

Mandelson is also deeply linked to the right-wing Labour Together project which successfully undermined the Jeremy Corbyn leadership. He had been picked to be UK ambassador to the US. Now his career lies in tatters.

There are also questions about the liberal use of redactions on the material in question:

NEW: The Intelligence and Security Committee has raised concerns about the government's handling of the Mandelson Files.

It says redactions are being applied "far too broadly" and some documents are being withheld altogether.

It also teases that we can expect to see lots and… pic.twitter.com/0XD3PbqaPG

— Jack Elsom (@JackElsom) May 15, 2026

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said the government was:

 working to publish as much material as we can as soon as possible.

Tory and Lib Dem politicians clearly smell blood. Tory shadow minister Alex Burghart said:

It is outrageous that Labour are trying to withhold documents about the Mandelson-Epstein affair from Parliament.

Mandelson — government cover up, again

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said:

This thing reeks. Why is the government trying to cover up, again, the scale of the Mandelson mess? What could be worse than what we’ve already seen?

MPs voted that all relevant files should be released.

The BBC said:

In his statement, Lord Beamish said the committee has reached a decision on all the redactions requested by government in the 337 documents referred to it, and that it is now for the government to publish the documents within 28 sitting days.

However, he listed a number of concerns about how the government had responded to the humble address.

The Canary has reported:

The rules in place to protect British national security were suspended to allow Mandelson to participate in, and profit from, highly sensitive briefings, meetings, and intelligence. A coordinated “protection racket” for Blair’s disciples, by Starmer’s handlers.

The Labour party’s increasingly cartel-mindset and the ensuing damage of the Mandelson is yet to receive the attention it deserves. Starmer, in particular, has been left off the hook.

Keir Starmer came to power having made a lot of promises, as our readers will be well aware… One which stands out today is a 2020 pledge for a “transparency revolution”:

We need a transparency revolution. There should be no power without accountability, and true accountability requires transparency.

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 4, 2020

Starmer looks like he might not last much longer. It seems fitting that this latest revelation about his tendency towards authoritarianism and secrecy could be one of the final nails in his political coffin. Starmer looks destined for the dustbin of history. Few will be sad to see him go.

Featured image via Carl Court/Getty Images