Downing Street could begin releasing documents related to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to Washington on Wednesday, reports have suggested.
Parliamentary sources said Cabinet minister Darren Jones is expected to address MPs after Prime Minister’s Questions, following media reports No 10 was preparing to release the first round of Mandelson papers.
Last month, MPs ordered the Government to release thousands of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment in 2024 after questions over how the peer was vetted and what was known about his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The timing of the expected release has led to accusations from the Conservatives that the British Prime Minister is attempting to “dodge questions” about Mandelson’s vetting by publishing the documents after PMQs.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: “His fingers are all over this.
“He’s already admitted that he knew about Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein when he appointed him.
“Time and again his judgment has been found wanting.”
A Commons motion called for the release of a huge range of material, including messages between Mandelson and ministers and senior officials that could prove embarrassing for the Government.
Following the vote, Keir Starmer said he wanted to ensure “urgency and transparency” and apologised for believing the peer’s “lies” about the extent of his relationship with Epstein.
Some files are expected to be withheld for national security or foreign relations reasons, but the final say over which documents are redacted rests with Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.
Ministers had initially proposed giving the cabinet secretary control over which papers should be withheld, but backed down in the face of opposition from Labour backbenchers.
The Government has also agreed a framework with the Metropolitan Police on which documents can be released without prejudicing the ongoing police investigation into Mandelson, according to the ISC.
Mandelson was arrested on February 23rd on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information on to Epstein during his time as business secretary.
He was subsequently bailed, but later released from his bail conditions, although he remains under investigation.
The Cabinet Office declined to comment on the timetable for releasing the first tranche of documents.