Officials ‘won’t release key vetting file on Mandelson’s appointment’

The Cabinet Office will reportedly not release a key document relating to the vetting of Peter Mandelson after the Metropolitan Police warned it could threaten their ongoing investigation.

The summary document, which was compiled before Lord Mandelson was appointed as the UK ambassador to the US, is no longer expected to be released by officials after warnings that doing so could jeopardise any future prosecution of the disgraced peer.

It emerged earlier this year that Lord Mandelson failed crucial security vetting but was given the job anyway. Concerns were raised about his links to figures in China, Russia and Israel.

He was sacked in September last year after it was revealed that he had maintained his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction for child sexual offences.

The latest reports of plans to not release the key vetting document, revealed by The Times, comes after Parliament’s intelligence watchdog accused the government of withholding certain documents, including the vetting file.

MPs had demanded the release of documents relating to the former Labour minister’s appointment using a parliamentary motion known as a humble address.

It was agreed that sensitive material, such as information which could compromise international relations or national security, would be passed to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).

But the ISC has since suggested redactions were “being applied far too broadly”, and its chairman Lord Beamish said ministers should seek permission from Parliament to exclude information on non-security grounds.

At the time, the Cabinet Office insisted that a UKSV summary document on Lord Mandelson’s vetting had been shared with the ISC and redactions had been mutually agreed so it could be published.

“We are committed to complying with the humble address in full,” a government spokesperson said.

Scotland Yard launched a criminal investigation into allegations of misconduct in a public office earlier this year after Lord Mandelson was accused of sharing sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary in 2009. He was arrested in February and released under investigation and has denied any wrongdoing.

Any failures by the former US ambassador to declare a possible conflict of interest in the vetting process could constitute misconduct in public office.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “An investigation into alleged misconduct in public office is underway and it is vital due process is followed so that our criminal investigation and any potential prosecution is not compromised.

“We are working with the Cabinet Office to review relevant documents provided to us by them.

“While complying with the Humble Address is a matter for government and parliament, we have asked the Cabinet Office not to make some documents public as they would have a detrimental impact on our investigation or any subsequent prosecution.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to complying with the Humble Address in full.

“The second tranche of documents will be among the largest publications ever laid in Parliament.

“That reflects the transparent and thorough process we have followed, in line with established precedent for Humble Addresses.”