UK Government Publishes 1,504 Pages of Correspondence on Peter Mandelson’s Appointment and Departure as US Ambassador

The UK government released more than 1,504 pages of WhatsApp messages, emails and other correspondence relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador on Monday. The documents cover the period after Keir Starmer appointed Mandelson to the post in December 2024. Starmer dismissed Mandelson nine months later after new details about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein emerged.

In a May 2025 message, Mandelson told cabinet minister Pat McFadden that Starmer "lacks verve as does the Cabinet as a whole". In the same month, McFadden wrote that "Every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others'" and added that "they're asking the wrong questions".

In July 2025, Mandelson told pensions minister Torsten Bell that government "doesn’t do policy, generally speaking, well enough".

He also told McFadden that No 10 was "beleaguered and bereft", needed a "complete revamp" and that "most of them don't think Keir knows what he wants". A note delivered to Mandelson after he received the appointment expressed his view that the posting would prove lasting and positive for the government. David Lammy was Foreign Secretary at the time the note arrived.

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told the Commons that Mandelson's vetting file has been shared with the Intelligence and Security Committee for future publication. The Metropolitan Police have asked for the file to be held back while they investigate Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing.

Jones said there will be a general debate on Wednesday so further questions can take place. The vetting file was not included in Monday’s release of more than 1,000 pages of documents.