No.10 Spokesperson Rejects Accusations Of A 'Cover-Up' In Mandelson Files
Keir Starmer’s spokesperson has rejected accusations of a “cover-up” over the Peter Mandelson files.
The government released the first tranche of its documents relating to the former Labour peer’s appointment as a US ambassador on Wednesday.
Ministers were forced to publish the files amid wider questions over how much No.10 knew about Mandelson’s friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when offering him the top job in December 2024.
The official due diligence documents sent to the prime minister did not include any comments from Starmer and the boxes meant for his input were left blank.
That sparked claims prime minister’s remarks had been “redacted”.
While speaking to reporters on Thursday, the spokesperson said: “I refute the suggestion of a cover-up. The government’s complied fully. I just don’t accept that it’s the case at all.
“There are a range of different ways in which the prime minister’s senior team responds to advice.”
The representative added: “The prime minister did read the advice, but clearly there are lessons to be learned on the wider appointment processes, and the processes that led up to them.”
The response comes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch suggested key details were missing in this set of files.
She told PA: “I’ve been a minister and a secretary of state, the comments which Keir Starmer would have put on the box notes – those are the cover notes where you explain what you want to happen – are missing.
“They have been removed. We need the full details of what the prime minister did. There is still a cover-up going on.”
The documents are being released in batches to avoiding prejudicing the ongoing police probe into allegations of misconduct in public office against Mandelson.
Mandelson has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.