Mandelsons leaked messages blast Starmers leadership as UK releases ambassador files
Peter Mandelson’s leaked private messages expose scathing criticism of Keir Starmer’s leadership, calling Downing Street "beleaguered and bereft" as the UK government releases thousands of documents tied to his controversial appointment as US ambassador.
The former Labour grandee and ex-diplomat accused Starmer of lacking "verve" and buckling under pressure in WhatsApp exchanges with a senior cabinet minister, urging the prime minister to adopt a more "Trumpian" approach to command public confidence. Mandelson’s messages, part of a 1,000-page trove published on Monday, describe No. 10’s policy output as "rubbish in, rubbish out" and lament that the government’s advisers were failing to deliver effective leadership, according to *The Guardian* . The Financial Times reports that the documents reveal Mandelson’s "unfiltered remarks" to officials, including frustration with Labour MPs’ calls for tax hikes to fund welfare and his opposition to Ed Miliband’s net-zero policies .
The release follows a February parliamentary vote demanding transparency over Mandelson’s 2025 appointment as ambassador—a role he was later dismissed from amid revelations of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. *The New York Times* notes that a letter in the files shows Mandelson insisting the government would "never regret" his appointment, despite the subsequent scandal . Downing Street framed the publication as an "unprecedented" act of transparency, though officials acknowledged some material was declassified specifically for release, per *The Guardian*’s live updates .
Gaps in the record persist: *Politico* reports that key messages between Mandelson and former Labour minister Nick Thomas-Symonds are missing after a second reported theft of the latter’s phone . The documents also reveal internal discussions about creating an external No. 10 unit to bypass existing staff, a proposal attributed to Starmer’s chief of staff, according to the *FT* .
The files arrive as Starmer faces mounting scrutiny over his handling of Mandelson’s appointment, with opposition parties questioning the prime minister’s judgment. A second batch of documents, expected later this week, may shed further light on the decision-making process, *The Journal* reports . Mandelson’s tenure as ambassador ended in December 2025 after *The Times* revealed his undisclosed meetings with Epstein, though he has denied wrongdoing.
Mandelsons leaked messages blast Starmers leadership as UK releases ambassador files
- new york times
- politico.eu
- thejournal
- financial times
Articles
Eight things we learnt from the latest Mandelson files Documents contain nuggets about the peers appointment as US envoy and the workings of Sir Keir Starmers government
financial times · 5 days ago
Mandelson criticised Starmers lack of verve and tendency to buckle under pressure Criticisms revealed in major release of files relating to Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to USUK politics live – latest updatesPeter Mandelson exchanged WhatsApp messages with a senior cabinet minister criticising Keir Starmers lack of verve and tendency to buckle under pressure, suggesting the prime minister should behave in a more Trumpian fashion.The former US ambassador said No 10 was beleaguered and bereft and that the public were crying out for leadership. In another exchange, he described both the advisers and policy coming out of No 10 as rubbish in, rubbish out.McFadden complaining how Labour MPs wanted to raise taxes to pay for welfare.Starmers chief of staff considered setting up an external No 10 unit to circumvent existing staff.Mandelson venting his annoyance about Ed Miliband and net zero. Continue reading...
theguardian · 5 days ago
Top UK ministers Mandelson messages missing after second reported phone theft Nick Thomas-Symonds earlier communications with sacked U.S. envoy were not in Mondays release of files on Peter Mandelson.
politico.eu · 5 days ago
![[lalibre] "Keir Starmer manque de verve" : des messages privés de Peter Mandelson dévoilés #Europe](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/preview_cards/images/195/007/461/original/306ba2d5519a9851.jpg)
[lalibre] "Keir Starmer manque de verve" : des messages privés de Peter Mandelson dévoilés #Europe
mastodon bot · 5 days ago
The Mandelson Files are out - and theyre explosive. The volume of private internal correspondence now under scrutiny is vast. Peter Mandelson didnt hold back on offering opinions about Keir Starmer - and some Cabinet ministers were happy to join in. My video analysis below.
bluesky bot · 5 days ago
Mandelson files expose criticism of Starmers advance/buckle premiership Documents reveal remarkable extent of former envoys influence across government policy
financial times · 5 days ago
![Mandelson described Starmers No 10 operation as beleaguered and bereft in published files – as it happened Peter Mandelsons unfiltered remarks to cabinet officials are made public in hundreds of pages of documents relating to his appointment as US ambassador Mandelson files show no mitigation of security concernsAt the Downing Street lobby briefing the PMs spokesperson said the release of the Mandelson files today would be an unprecedented piece of government transparency.He said that party political material would be included, despite precedent suggesting it should be included, and that some material had to be declassified to allow it to be published.The broad scope of the [humble address motion – see 9.26am] has required the discovery, assessment, analysis and preparation of thousands of individual documents and messages.This is a task that has involved every government department.Yeah, I have changed what I would say. I wouldnt say that phrase any more.And I think that, you know, over the last few years, I think a lot of us, myself included, have thought about this question in quite some detail. Continue reading...](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9ce1f878ac0c6846304b88bee7b295d1d04d4a9d/545_0_6671_5337/master/6671.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fecddc2f15ba0f93fa0c84592659c708)
Mandelson described Starmers No 10 operation as beleaguered and bereft in published files – as it happened Peter Mandelsons unfiltered remarks to cabinet officials are made public in hundreds of pages of documents relating to his appointment as US ambassador Mandelson files show no mitigation of security concernsAt the Downing Street lobby briefing the PMs spokesperson said the release of the Mandelson files today would be an unprecedented piece of government transparency.He said that party political material would be included, despite precedent suggesting it should be included, and that some material had to be declassified to allow it to be published.The broad scope of the [humble address motion – see 9.26am] has required the discovery, assessment, analysis and preparation of thousands of individual documents and messages.This is a task that has involved every government department.Yeah, I have changed what I would say. I wouldnt say that phrase any more.And I think that, you know, over the last few years, I think a lot of us, myself included, have thought about this question in quite some detail. Continue reading...
theguardian · 5 days ago
UK Releases More Files About Mandelson, Ex-Diplomat With Ties to Epstein Peter Mandelson, who was fired over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, made the claim in a letter that was revealed in more than a thousand pages of documents released on Monday.
new york times · 5 days ago
Mandelson said Government would never regret ambassador appointment, files show MPs voted in February to demand ministers publish a wide range of documents relating to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.
thejournal · 5 days ago
The British government published a second batch of documents relating to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, a saga which has led to questions over Prime Minister Keir Starmers judgment and leadership reut.rs/4efNpoD
bluesky bot · 6 days ago