Lord Mandelson’s investigation into allegations that convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein leaked sensitive government financial information will require a ‘massive amount’ of further evidence gathering, the Met Police said. ITV News’ Jai Akbar reports
Gordon Brown said the situation facing Sir Keir Starr was “dire”, but that Prime Minister Lord Mandelson was an honest man who had been “deceived and betrayed”.
Starmer faces mounting pressure after conceding Lord Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was known even before he was appointed US ambassador.
Lord Mandelson is being investigated after allegations he passed market-sensitive information to a pedophile financier when he was business secretary during the financial crisis.
Asked if Starr was the right person to take the country forward, Brown told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can look him in the eye and see he’s a man of integrity. He wants to do the right thing.
“Maybe he’s too late to do the right things, but he has to do the right things now, and let’s decide what he does, what happens in the next few months as he tries, and I believe (he) will try to clean up the system.”
He suggested there should be US-style confirmation hearings for new government ministers and senior appointees.
On Wednesday, Starr told MPs that Lord Mandelson had “lied repeatedly” during the inquiry process.
Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson in 2010. Credit: PA
However, Brown said the alleged lies Lord Mandelson told during the appointment process as US ambassador “were not a sufficient explanation of what happened”.
“There has been a systemic failure to properly investigate, to go through the proper procedures and indeed, in my view, what should be a public hearing for anyone in a senior position representing the British government.”
Brown said he regretted befriending Lord Mandelson back in government in 2008, adding that he felt “shocked, saddened, angry, betrayed, disappointed” when he saw the Epstein messages released by the US Department of Justice.
Responding to Gordon Brown’s comments, a government spokesman said: “Most people who enter public life do so with a strong sense of duty and to make a difference to people’s lives.
“But the disgraceful and disgraceful behavior revealed this week is completely inconsistent with public service, and it is right that no one is above responsibility.
“We have already strengthened the ministerial code, giving more powers to the independent counsel to launch investigations, introduced a new monthly register of gifts and hospitality, established a new ethics commission, and ensured that ministers who break the rules cannot receive severance payments.
“But Gordon Brown is right that more action is needed in light of what has emerged this week – and we have started work urgently on how we can do more.”
The police have confirmed that the search operation has been completed in the property related to the ongoing investigation regarding misconduct in public office. Credit: PA
The Metropolitan Police said the investigation into Lord Mandelson’s alleged misconduct in public office was “complex” and required a “significant amount of further evidence gathering”.
On Saturday, the Met confirmed it had searched two properties – one in Wiltshire and the other in Camden, north-west London – in connection with its investigation.
In a statement, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said: “The searches were related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office involving a 72-year-old man.
“He has not been arrested and inquiries are ongoing.
“This will be a complex investigation that will require further evidence to be gathered and analysed.
“It will take some time to do this work extensively and we will not be providing ongoing commentary.”
ITV News has made several attempts to contact Mandelson regarding the allegations against him but has not received a response.
However, he said this before He has “no recollection” of receiving the sum of money Mention and he said that “it is not known whether the documents are authentic”.
He insisted that Epstein’s money did not affect his work in government.
Police search two addresses linked to Peter Mandelson
Has the Mandelson scandal fatally damaged Care Starr’s premiership?
Pressure within Labor ranks continues to mount on Starr, with left-winger Kim Johnson saying his position is “irreversible”.
She told Times Radio: “I’m sorry, I have to say that I think her situation is irreparable at the moment. I’m sorry to say.”
Starmer’s former deputy Angela Rayner, who left the government last year after a dispute over the underpayment of stamp duty on new property, is widely seen as Sir Keir’s potential successor.
The Times reported that Reiner had told friends that she had warned Starr not to appoint Lord Mandelson as ambassador because of his relationship with Epstein, although she is said not to want to be the one to launch a challenge against the prime minister.
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Elsewhere, Green Party leader Jack Polanski has called for Starr to resign, claiming the Mandelson scandal “undermines trust in politics”.
The prime minister said Polanski “needs to go” by making Lord Mandelson ambassador to the US, showing a “catastrophic level of misjudgment”.
“I think we already know that people have a deep distrust of the political system and really, I think that reflects badly on everybody,” he told the Press Association.
“I think Keir Starrer should go.”
The Liberal Democrats called on the Financial Conduct Authority to launch an investigation into Lord Mandelson.
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said in a letter to City Watchdog: “It is important to examine whether Mandelson leaked information to benefit from access to this market sensitive and confidential material.
“He and others found to have abused trade laws for financial gain should face criminal charges.”
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