THE UK Government has released three 500-page files containing key documents and personal WhatsApp messages between Peter Mandelson and senior government ministers and staff.
The documents were ordered to be published by the House of Commons in the wake of revelations about Mandelson’s ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Here are the key things we have drawn from the documents:
Messages to Keir Starmer
Mandelson suggested Keir Starmer should meet with former prime minister John Major after Labour’s win in the 2024 General Election.
In a message sent on July 17, 2024, Mandelson wrote: “I was at a dinner with John Major this evening and if you don’t know him I think good idea to invite him for a chat.
“As well as being a very nice person, he is interesting and thoughtful. Just a thought. No need to reply.”
Responding on July 25, 2024, Starmer said: “Thanks Peter. It’s so good to be getting on with the job of governing.
“A million times better than opposition – you know that!
“I’ll reach out to John M, he’s a very thoughtful man. See you soon I hope. All best Keir."
Government will 'never regret' appointment
A handwritten note from Mandelson to then-foreign secretary David Lammy said the Government would “never regret” appointing him as ambassador to Washington DC.
The letter, written in blue pen on notepaper headed with Mandelson’s name and a House of Lords seal, and dated November 18, 2024, read: “Dear David, As today (and all week) is polling day in Oxford and I am returning to London, I wanted to drop you a line, personally, about Washington.
"Thankfully, the media speculation has gone away and I hope this was not too irritating to you. I just wanted you to know that if you were minded to appoint me I would make sure you never regret it.
"I fear that navigating Britain’s interests through the Trump administration will require super-human skills and luck and a massive team effort.
“There is so much riding on it, on security and defence, on trade and economy and on the relationship, not to mention China.
“If we all put our best minds and energy to it, I think we can pull it off but we have to be realistic.
"For me it would be the last thing I do in public life and it would be a huge honour to serve you and the Government in this role. So if you are up for it, so am I.”
Government doesn't do policy 'well enough'
On July 20, 2025, Mandelson told pensions minister Torsten Bell “the government doesn’t do policy, generally speaking, well enough”.
Bell agreed and told him: “That is definitely true – everyone seems to think it’s someone else’s job to get the policy right … Which is very odd.”
Mandelson replied: “As the saying goes, rubbish in rubbish out…”
Trump's red box
A message from former senior civil servant Olly Robbins shows the UK Government trying to organise a gift for Donald Trump of a red dispatch box "with the gold crest and lettering mimicking a UK Government ministerial box but with 'President of the United States' inscribed upon it."
An email from Mandelson to the Prime Minister's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney later describes this as like "something out of Thick of it".
The US president eventually received the red box and in a message to Ed Miliband on July 22, 2025, Mandelson said: "Red Box made a big impact!"
McSweeney 'confident' of winning Runcorn
In messages between Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and Mandelson, the former US ambassador refers to McSweeney having been "confident" Labour would win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election last year before Reform pipped them to the post.
On May 5, 2025, McFadden messaged Mandelson saying: "Awful feeling today. What a shellacking. I hope this hurts and worries others as much as it does me."
Mandelson replied saying the Government needed to behave "in a more Trumpian risk-taking and daredevil way".
He said: "I feel it too in the middle of the night here. Morgan was so confident on Thursday night of having won Runcorn. The problem is the government doesn’t give a sense of crusading to turn round and change Britain.
"That’s what I mean by panache, verve. 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.
"At the moment ministers seem to be looking more to the Whitehall machine and the party base than to the public who are crying out for leadership."
Douglas Alexander makes an appearance
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander also makes it into the Mandelson files.
Ahead of the 2024 General Election, on June 30, 2024 Alexander asked Mandelson for his view on the upcoming results noting that there is “very [sic] little enthusiasm for Labour but a quiet determination to secure change which is our greatest ally”.
In a further exchange on July 7, 2024, just days after the Westminster election results were declared, the new MP for Lothian East wrote: “Peter – thank you. (As usual) your judgment was vindicated.
"You probably don’t realise quite how influential you’ve been in this whole improbable journey. From your initial encouragement two years ago this month ‘Douglas … you’re going to have to become all Laboury again!’ to your quiet and effective support when Gordon came out for [Third Party/Redacted] in the selection … I won’t forget any of it.
“And yes, of course I would value your counsel on Trade. Hope we can speak soon. In gratitude and appreciation, Douglas.”
Mandelson replied simply: “Any time.”
Further messages show the pair discussing Mandelson introducing Alexander to an unknown person, whose details have been redacted.
In October that year, Alexander also offered his services to Mandelson ahead of a Reform Scotland event, adding: “If it’s an 'in conversation' and I can be of any help on the Scottish angle then just shout.”
He also goes on to commiserate Mandelson after he failed to get elected as the chancellor of Oxford University, and then his appointment as UK ambassador to the US.
'Chief AI buddy'
In a message on December 20, 2024, Mandelson referred to Sam Altman as his "chief AI buddy in the US".
Altman was the CEO of OpenAI until he was ousted in November 2023 with an official post on the company's website stating that "the board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI".
This was predicated by employee concerns about his handling of AI safety and allegations of abusive behaviour.
