Daily Politics from the New Statesman Mandelson files: Starmer knew
Mar 13, 2026
Rachel Cunliffe, political journalist and New Statesman contributor who read the Mandelson files in full. She walks through the released vetting papers and onboarding documents. She highlights references to Jeffrey Epstein, the contested severance demands, and timing issues around security clearance. She discusses staff warnings, political fallout for Keir Starmer, and what further files might reveal.
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Mandelson Epstein Link Confirmed In Vetting
- The released files confirm Peter Mandelson maintained a close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein's 2008 conviction.
- The Foreign Office vetting cites a 2019 JP Morgan report noting Mandelson stayed at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse and joined a Ghislaine Maxwell charity board after 2008.
Severance Demand And £75,000 Settlement Explained
- Mandelson sought a severance payout of £547,201 and pressed employment-rights arguments after being forced to resign.
- The files show he wasn't contractually owed that sum, but received £75,000 after the Foreign Office argued a payout was cheaper than tribunal risk.
HR Template Includes Quirky Example About MP Daughter
- The files include mundane HR templates that amusingly suggest listing 'I have a daughter who's an MP' as a sample item.
- Rachel highlights this to show how process-heavy onboarding paperwork can produce odd, misleading examples.