Newscast Epstein Files: Police Launch Investigation Into Mandelson
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Feb 3, 2026 
Daniela Relph, senior royal correspondent, and Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent, discuss new files linking Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein. They cover the Met’s criminal inquiry and what misconduct in public office means. They also explore political fallout, plans to strip a peerage, and royal-family revelations tied to the files.
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Embassy Introduction Echoes Differently Now
- Chris Mason recalled introducing Peter Mandelson at a Washington embassy event while jet-lagged.
- He noted the appointment then felt like a rare, politically valuable gamble that now has a significant backwash.
Complexity Of Misconduct In Public Office
- Misconduct in public office is an old, vague common-law offence rooted in 'abuse of the public's trust'.
- Prosecuting it requires proving willful misconduct serious enough to outrage public opinion and is ultimately for a jury to decide.
Government Moves To Distance Itself
- The government moved quickly to explore removing Mandelson's peerage and passed sensitive material to police.
- Officials emphasised acting fast to distance government from the controversy while the Met assesses files.