As is standard in a British police investigation, the force has not disclosed who it would question as a witness, and being questioned as such would not imply any wrongdoing. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced scrutiny over what Mandelson said during the process that led to his appointment as ambassador to D.C., and has claimed he was misled by the veteran Labour politician during that process.
There is little precedent for interviewing a serving prime minister as a witness, although Tony Blair was in 2006 questioned by police as a witness in a criminal probe during the “cash-for-honors” scandal. In 2022 Boris Johnson answered a police questionnaire under caution over coronavirus lockdown-breaching parties in government. Police are likely to have multiple leads to pursue before taking such a sensitive decision.
Whether to interview Morgan McSweeney, who as chief of staff advised Starmer over Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, is under active consideration. The powerful adviser resigned from the role as scrutiny over the appointment process mounted.
Others police may want to speak to include Gordon Brown, who was prime minister at the time Mandelson, who was in his cabinet, is accused of disclosing market sensitive information to Epstein. Brown volunteered evidence to Scotland Yard in February about alleged leaking of sensitive information surrounding the 2008 financial crisis.
Darren Tierney, who was in charge of the government’s Proprietary and Ethics Team when it carried out due diligence checks on Mandelson, is another potential figure police may want to speak to. None of the possible witnesses mentioned above are understood to have received a police interview request to date.
Dan Bloom contributed to this report.