The claim
“No 10 received a warning about Peter Mandelson's links with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him US ambassador.”
Coverage of the Mandelson vetting row after government documents were released.
Our verdict
True
Released government papers show No 10 was told about Mandelson's continuing ties with Epstein before the appointment.
What we found
Released government documents show the Cabinet Office's checks, based on public information, flagged a 'general reputational risk' from Mandelson's association with Epstein before his appointment was announced in December 2024. Separate security vetting later raised concerns that the Foreign Office overruled without telling Starmer.
The evidence
1 of 2 sources support the claim; none contradict it.
- Supports the claim
The first batch of released documents showed Mandelson was warned about a 'general reputational risk' from his Epstein links before the appointment was announced. [1]
- Background
Starmer said officials made a 'deliberate decision' not to tell him Mandelson had not cleared vetting. [2]
How we checked
We checked the claim against ITV News, RTÉ. We reviewed 2 relevant sources.
Sources
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