In a massive escalation of the scandal rocking the UK government, the Metropolitan Police officially raided two homes linked to former US Ambassador and Labour veteran Peter Mandelson today, Friday, February 6, 2026. Detectives from the Met's Central Specialist Crime team executed search warrants at Mandelsonās primary residence in Camden, North London, and a rented property in Wiltshire. The raids were unannounced, with officers seen collecting electronic devices, computers, and documents as part of an ongoing criminal probe into misconduct in public office.
The Intelligence Brief: Why the Met is Moving Now šš
The investigation centers on explosive new files released by the US Department of Justice, which appear to show that Mandelson acted as an informal intelligence asset for the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
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The Market Leaks: Documents suggest that while serving as Business Secretary in 2009, Mandelson leaked market-sensitive government data to Epstein. This included confidential details on bank bailouts and a planned £20 billion sell-off of government assets following the 2008 financial crash.
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The "Pay-to-Play" Trail: Bank statements from 2003 and 2004 show Epstein allegedly paid $75,000 into accounts linked to Mandelson or his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.
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The "Best Pal" Connection: New emails revealed that the relationship was far closer than previously admitted, with Mandelson reportedly calling Epstein his "best pal" in a birthday message and pestering him for help securing lucrative roles at firms like Glencore.
The "Political Ick": A Crisis for No. 10 šļøš
The fallout has been devastating for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been forced to issue a public apology for his "lapse in judgment" in appointing Mandelson as the US Ambassador in 2024.
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Starmer's Admission: During a tense Prime Ministerās Questions (PMQs), Starmer admitted he knew of Mandelsonās ties to Epstein before the appointment but claimed Mandelson "lied repeatedly" about the depth of the friendship.
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Internal Rebellion: Labour backbenchers and opposition MPs are now demanding the head of Starmerās chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who is accused of pushing the appointment despite major "red flags".
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Peerage Stripping: The government is currently drafting emergency legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage and his seat in the House of Lords, from which he has already resigned.
Essential Evidence & Database Links šµļøāāļøš
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Met Police Investigation Live Updates: Guardian: Mandelson Raid ā As It Happened
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The Full Epstein-Mandelson Email Logs: Sky News: Analysis of the 2026 Leak
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Official Parliamentary Debate: Hansard: US DOJ Release of Files
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Relationship Overview: Wikipedia: The Mandelson-Epstein Scandal