MPs have approved the release of documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador to the US.

19:06, Wed, Feb 4, 2026 Updated: 19:14, Wed, Feb 4, 2026

Sir Lindsay Hoyle

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Image: BBC)

MPs have backed the release of documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. The Tories have led the parliamentary push for papers to be disclosed after fresh revelations about the peer's association with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein emerged.

Sir Keir Starmer had wanted the top civil servant to decide what documents could not be released on national security grounds or because they could prejudice international relations. But earlier on Wednesday, he accepted the decision could be made by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) instead, in a major climbdown in the face of a Labour revolt.

Labour MPs, including former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, had demanded that the ISC be given the key role.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations took place in the Commons to reach a compromise to avoid a Labour rebellion.

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A Conservative spokesman said: "Kemi forced Starmer to admit he'd known Mandelson was still hanging out with Epstein after the child sex conviction, and No 10 went ahead and appointed Mandelson anyway.

"You could feel in the Commons that was the moment Labour MPs stopped backing the Prime Minister. The Government have now had to cave to Kemi's demand for all documents to go to the ISC. Starmer is no longer in control, Kemi is calling the shots."