Mandelson files: Key security vetting documents withheld from second release

The release of the second tranche of documents concerning Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to Washington has been accompanied by the admission that critical papers remain withheld. While the government described the disclosure of more than 1,500 pages as a measure of transparency, officials confirmed that specific items are being retained at the request of the Metropolitan Police to avoid prejudicing ongoing investigations.

Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, stated that these withheld documents would be published in a third tranche once the relevant investigations conclude or are no longer considered prejudicial. However, the absence of key records has drawn scrutiny regarding the completeness of the disclosure process and the integrity of the vetting procedures applied to Mandelson’s appointment.

Central to the missing materials is a nine-page summary produced by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV). Sources indicate this document outlined concerns that led security officials to conclude Mandelson should not receive “developed vetting” clearance. The summary reportedly flagged Mandelson’s links to China’s finance minister, Lan Fo’an, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and former Israeli military intelligence general Tamir Hayman.

The UKSV summary also noted a very close relationship with an unnamed British individual that could be compromising, alongside a £1m loan Mandelson received to invest in an Israeli startup. Security officials further recorded that Mandelson appeared naive regarding the risk that historical relationships could be exploited. Despite FCDO security chief Ian Collard claiming he submitted a note of this summary to the public disclosure process, the document and its characterisation of Mandelson as a “very borderline case” are absent from the release.

Other significant omissions include a completed declaration of interest form, which would have detailed the £1m loan and any mitigation steps taken. Only a blank template was included in the first tranche. Additionally, three questions sent by Keir Starmer’s chief of staff regarding Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, along with Mandelson’s responses, have been withheld. Minutes of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) phone calls detailing alleged pressure from Downing Street to expedite the vetting process in January 2025 are also missing, despite claims by senior officials that such pressure existed.

The lack of adequate minute-taking has been criticised by MPs on the foreign affairs committee and the intelligence and security committee. Furthermore, while many messages between Mandelson and political figures have been released, some conversations conducted via WhatsApp and Signal have not been recovered. The closest evidence of security mitigation in the released files is an email by Collard noting that Mandelson’s overseas contacts would be reviewed again for STRAP clearance.