The prime minister is facing fresh humiliation after the latest tranche of Mandelson files was published on Monday, revealing both in-fighting among ministers and profound criticism of Sir Keir Starmer’s administration.
The publication of more than 1,000 pages of messages relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US reveals his damning opinion of the government, with the disgraced peer saying that the prime minister “lacks verve” and warning that his Downing Street operation is “beleaguered and bereft”.
The release lays bare the extent to which government is conducted by WhatsApp and includes thousands of previously private messages exchanged between figures at the heart of government, revealing Lord Mandelson repeatedly offered unsolicited advice to ministers, derided colleagues and criticised the actions of the government.
Lord Mandelson, however, apparently “declined to comply” with a request to hand over his personal phone and allow the government to publish WhatsApp messages and other information related to his appointment, the documents showed.
Meanwhile, in a statement to the Commons, chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones confirmed that questions put to Lord Peter Mandelson during the vetting process were being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police, among a huge amount of redactions.
In the three volumes of papers, many were left as blank sheets and with asterisks, as opposition MPs warned against a “cover-up”.
But among a number of controversial revelations in the release was an exchange between Lord Mandelson and cabinet minister Pat McFadden – a close ally of the PM – where the pair speculated that Sir Keir may not survive a rebellion over plans to slash the welfare bill last year.
As it was unravelling, Mr McFadden wrote that the situation was “very bad”, warning that many of the options “all destroy his [the PM’s] authority”.
Meanwhile, Lord Mandelson wrote: “If it presses to a vote and is lost I am not sure that Keir survives that.”
Other key revelations in the files include:
- Peter Mandelson told the then foreign secretary David Lammy he will “never regret” making him US ambassador
- The former US ambassador also told ministers to behave in a more “Trumpian” way to beat Reform
- The files show him consoling former transport minister over “harsh” exit – then congratulating her replacement
- The former Labour peer was deeply concerned over Britain’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands, the files show
- Lord Mandelson discussed commissioning an official government “red box” to give as a gift to President Trump, and said he’d “gone tonto” over difficulties in achieving this – likening the “saga” to “something out of The Thick of It”
- Email discussions on how to handle press stories about Mandelson failing his security vetting were being discussed by FCDO officials two days after The Independent broke the story
In another blow to Sir Keir’s administration, Lord Mandelson warned that it is “beleaguered and bereft”, adding that it “requires complete revamp and infusion of purpose and confidence to get anywhere”.
The files also reveal that Lord Mandelson told ministers to behave in a more “Trumpian risk taking and dare devil way” in the aftermath of Labour’s loss to Reform in the Runcorn by-election.
Lord Mandelson said the party’s problems “stem from the top and Keir lacks verve”, going on to tell Mr McFadden on 3 May 2025, in a message at around 4am US time, that Sir Keir’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney was “so confident” the party would win the Runcorn by-election.
He wrote: “It does start right from the top, I am afraid, but you must all contribute more to it by breaking out of the Whitehall system and mould and appearing less like business as usual conventional ministers and, dare I say it, behaving in a more Trumpian risk taking and dare devil way.”
Another exchange saw Mr McFadden accuse Labour MPs of focusing on “who we can tax”.
The work and pensions secretary told the former Labour minister that there was a “lot of manoeuvring here” – including from Angela Rayner and Gordon Brown – and that it “doesn’t feel good for Keir” on 23 May 2025.
At the time, Sir Keir was under pressure over the fallout of local elections and his “island of strangers” immigration speech.
Mr McFadden went on to criticise the Parliamentary Labour Party, telling Lord Mandelson: “Every meeting I have is ‘who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others’. They’re asking the wrong questions.”
Lord Mandelson also weighed in on party politics, claiming Gordon Brown “has it in” for Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves, adding he thinks Ms Rayner is “an instrument of destabilisation”.
Elsewhere, the disgraced peer accused health secretary Wes Streeting of having an “early midlife crisis”, dubbing him “pathetic” in July 2025. He also accused him of being “hysterical” about Israel, saying it “reflects pretty badly on his maturity”.
Responding to the latest tranche of files, Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham – who is hoping to return to Westminster by winning the Makerfield by-election later this month – said the revelations “will further damage people’s confidence in our political system”, adding that “fundamental culture change” is required to regain the trust of the electorate.
Meanwhile, foreign secretary David Lammy revealed he wanted former chancellor George Osborne to take up the ambassador role that Mandelson was eventually appointed to, claiming he raised concerns with No 10 about the disgraced peer’s suitability for the role.
Giving a statement in the Commons following the release of the files, Mr Jones said: “As the House is aware, the Metropolitan Police has also asked the government to withhold some material in scope of the motion, which they considered could be prejudicial to their ongoing criminal investigation or any subsequent prosecution.”
He added: “No responsible government would wish to undermine a criminal investigation and put at risk the justice that it seeks, and I am sure the House will share this position.
“I can, however, confirm that this material does include questions put to Peter Mandelson, by the prime minister’s then chief of staff, and Peter Mandelson’s responses. In addition, a small number of documents have been withheld at the request of the police, which fall broadly into the following categories.
“Firstly, national security vetting information, secondly, conflict of interest to process material, and thirdly, relevant internal correspondence with Peter Mandelson.
“Such information will, of course, be published at the conclusion of the investigation, or at the point at which it would no longer be prejudicial to the police investigation to do so.”
Mr Jones also told the Commons that no files in the second tranche of files were redacted without the approval of the Intelligence and Security Committee, as well as saying that “no government minister or special adviser has determined any of the redactions themselves”.
