- Lord Peter Mandelson said the Government would “never regret” appointing him as Britain’s ambassador to the US, a note published alongside thousands of documents about the posting has revealed.
- Mandelson warned that Sir Keir Starmer's Downing Street operation was "beleaguered and bereft" in damaging WhatsApp messages to a Cabinet minister. The then US ambassador told close Starmer ally Pat McFadden: "I went in to No10 after I saw you. It is beleaguered and bereft."
- On July 20, 2025 he told pensions minister Torsten Bell “the government doesn’t do policy, generally speaking, well enough”. Mr Bell 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.” Lord Mandelson replied: “As the saying goes, rubbish in rubbish out…”
- In an exchange with Lords Leader Baroness Angela Smith, Lord Mandelson said Labour’s policy of removing the VAT exemption for private schools was “probably unwise”. Lady Smith said there was “grumpiness” from “more on our side than I’d like” over the policy during the WhatsApp conversation in August 2024. Mandelson told her: “I am afraid I think the VAT policy was probably unwise.”
- Lord Mandelson said former transport secretary Louise Haigh’s exit from government was “harsh” after she quit over a fraud offence. In a message to her on November 29, 2024 he said: “Lou, I am very sorry about this. You have been brave and loyal in your decision but it seems harsh given you were appointed in full knowledge.”
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