Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s delicate strategy for managing President Trump just hit a major snag, as U.K. officials are seriously worried that the upcoming release of Peter Mandelson’s communications could completely derail the relationship, as reported by Politico. Starmer is now under political pressure to publish documents related to the ex-Labour peer’s controversial appointment as ambassador.
This demand for greater transparency comes from Members of Parliament across the political spectrum in the UK, and it means the government will have to release files that could include private messages between Mandelson and officials at No.10 Downing Street and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Because Mandelson, known throughout his career for his ruthlessness and candor, wasn’t shy about sharing his opinions. Two senior Whitehall officials, speaking anonymously, made it clear they are concerned about what Mandelson might have said about President Trump to his colleagues, and how those colleagues might have responded. One official admitted there is “lots which could be damaging,” noting that “he [Mandelson] used to download his thoughts in real time.”
This mandatory disclosure is causing major anxiety within diplomatic circles
This isn’t just about political embarrassment; it’s about a potential diplomatic meltdown. We’ve seen this happen before. Mandelson’s predecessor as ambassador, Kim Darroch, was forced to resign back in 2019 after confidential diplomatic cables criticizing President Trump’s administration were made public. However, the officials noted that Mandelson might not have always used formal cables for his musings, often preferring email and texts, which could make the content even more casual and explosive.
The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) of parliament will be tasked with sifting through these documents before they are published. Here’s the catch: the ISC is only looking for matters that might jeopardize national security. They aren’t concerned with information that could cause mere embarrassment or create rifts between governments. This means that if Mandelson’s candid thoughts on President Trump don’t present a security threat, they could very well end up in the public domain.
In his message, Robbins referenced the Prime Minister’s earlier expression of regret for appointing Mandelson. Robbins wrote, “I am also sorry about this episode, which I know will have affected staff particularly in our U.S. team but also across the workforce.” He acknowledged the anxiety and attempted to reassure staff that his recommendations for leadership roles are guided by a deep concern to preserve the service’s reputation for merit and integrity.
It’s important to remember that Mandelson’s appointment was controversial from the start. He was named the British ambassador last year despite his known links to the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He was then forced out of the role in September after reports surfaced that he had maintained a closer relationship with the late financier after Epstein’s conviction than was previously known.
The scandal was further reignited when emails released earlier this week, as part of the wider Epstein files, appeared to show Mandelson leaking internal government discussions following the 2008 financial crash. Police are now investigating allegations of misconduct in public office against him, which may actually limit some of the information that is ultimately made available.
Published: Feb 6, 2026 12:30 pm