Intelligence Committee intervenes on delay to release Mandelson files

The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) continues to press the Starmer government to release the entirety of the Peter Mandelson files.

The top security body asked an urgent question in the House of Commons to try and get access to the documents.

The row became public on 15 May when the Canary reported:

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.

Keir Starmer is under pressure over alleged irregularities in vetting the appointment of Mandelson — an arch-Blairite and long-time friend of paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein — as UK ambassador to the US.

Mandelson is under investigation for misconduct in public office

Times journalist, Steve Swinford, called the step from the ISC “extraordinary” in an X post.

The ISC laid out serious concerns about the way the government has been conducting itself on Friday, effectively accusing it of censorship and putting national security at risk

It hasn’t had a response – so is going directly to the Commons to try to force the government’s hand. Jeremy Wright, the former AG, is expected to lead on the debate for the ISC when/ if it is granted.

The Intelligence and Security Committee is taking the extraordinary step of tabling a UQ in the Commons today amid concerns over redactions to the Lord Mandelson files

The ISC laid out serious concerns about the way the government has been conducting itself on Friday,…

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) May 19, 2026

Swinford also presented what he said were the main ISC objections to government failure to produce the Mandelson documents:

• The ISC says that it is applying the ‘personal information’ criteria ‘far too broadly’ and without any scrutiny. ‘We note that no body has been commissioned to review these redactions and assure Parliament they are within the spirit of the Humble Address’

 

• It also accuses the Cabinet Office of withholding documents, including Mandelson’s vetting file. While the ISC does not wish to see the vetting file – indeed it privately accepts that doing so would undermine the vetting system – it says the Government needs to return to Parliament and seek its agreement for withholding documents

 

• The ISC says that the level of government business conducted on WhatsApp is ‘extraordinary’. ‘Lengthy Whatsapp conversations between senior officials and ministers appear now to be the format by which Government policy is formulated’

 

• It says government departments – the FCDO in particular – are failing to keep proper records – agendas, minutes and records of conversations. ‘This is unacceptable in government’

 

• Sensitive exchanges are being conducted on ‘lower level’ security systems, putting the UK’s national security at risk. The ISC says it is ‘appalling’

Running down the clock

The ISC has since been told that the Mandelson files will not be released for at least a month.

The BBC reported:

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, said the papers would be released after Parliament’s upcoming recess to give MPs “sufficient time to review the material”.

Jones gave the update in the House of Commons after the committee of MPs reviewing the documents said some files were being withheld and redacted on new grounds.

Jones has denied allegations of a cover up.

In February, MPs voted that all files should be released.

The government initially opposed the motion, arguing that it did not want to publish material that could damage national security or diplomatic relations.

The government later agreed to the release but has not been in a rush to follow through. A first batch was released in March. The current disagreement is over a second batch of files.

ISC head, Lord Beamish, told the BBC:

The government still needed to explain why certain information connected to the security vetting of Lord Mandelson could not be published.

Starmer is on the ropes over Mandelson and recent election results, and is under threat by power-hungry rivals in his own party. It seems like a matter of time before the right wing influence operation to seize control of the dying party unravels — and hopefully the entire neo-Blairite project with it.

Featured image via Jon Rowley/ Getty Images