Angela Rayner lead calls by Labour MP’s for Kier Starmer to agree to the Conservative proposal for the intelligence and security committee to decide what Mandelson files are released, and what are held back
As the controversy over the release of correspondence between the former Labour minister and Jeffrey Epstein reached fever pitch in the Commons, the Greater Manchester MP and former Deputy leader reminded the House that trust is not built by secrecy. She argued that only Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee can credibly oversee redactions to the Mandelson–Epstein papers because when civil servants decide alone, suspicion fills the silence.
She said in this afternoon’s debate
In 2022 I proposed a Humble Address seeking information about PPE, which the party opposite then resisted, but we agreed that the Public Accounts Committee could have oversight.
‘Given the public disgust at the sickening behaviour of Peter Mandleson and the importance of transparency. Could the ISC not have the same role now, keeping public confidence in the process?”
The intervention came barely two hours after the PM said the Cabinet Secretary held the pen on what is released.
Keir Starmer had angered Labour MP’s after he admitted he was warned about Lord Mandelson’s friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him as ambassador to the US but also claimed that Mandelson had “lied” about the depth and extent of his relationship with Epstein
