Jones texts to Mandelson revealed in undisclosed messages
9 reported3 unconfirmed
According to a report by the Spectator, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief secretary, Darren Jones, sent private messages to Peter Mandelson after Mandelson was dismissed as US ambassador, and these messages were not included in the government’s recent mass document release. The texts included commiserations over Mandelson’s firing, requests for reshuffle advice, and critical comments about then-business secretary Jonathan Reynolds and trade union influence. Jones, who had previously stated he had no messages to release due to deleting or changing devices, acknowledged in Parliament that some messages could not be retrieved. Mandelson, who was sacked last September over revelations about his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has refused to hand over his own messages. The document release, prompted by a parliamentary motion, totaled over 1,500 pages, but MPs have raised questions about missing documents, some withheld due to a police investigation into Mandelson for misconduct in public office. Jones apologized to Parliament and to Epstein’s victims, stating he believed he had personally benefited from knowing Mandelson and treated him differently due to his perceived influence.
What’s reported
Darren Jones sent commiserations to Peter Mandelson after Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador, in messages not disclosed as part of the humble address release.
Jones’s texts included requests for advice on the reshuffle and critical comments about Jonathan Reynolds and trade union influence.
Jones was among ministers who said they had nothing to release because they had previously deleted messages or changed phones.
Mandelson was sacked last September due to revelations about his close friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson declined to hand over his own messages.
The document release was prompted by a parliamentary motion demanding mass release of government communications relating to Mandelson.
More than 1,500 pages of documents were published by the government on Monday.
Some documents have been withheld because of a police investigation into Mandelson for misconduct in public office.
Jones apologized to Parliament and to Epstein’s victims, saying he believed he had personally benefited from knowing Mandelson.
Open questions
What specific messages between Jones and Mandelson remain undisclosed, and whether Mandelson will ever release his own messages.
The full content of messages between Morgan McSweeney and Mandelson, including those about the Epstein relationship.
The contents of the nine-page UKSV summary document outlining security clearance concerns for Mandelson.
Key figures
Darren Jones – chief secretary to the prime minister (formerly chief secretary to the Treasury)
Peter Mandelson – former US ambassador
Keir Starmer – prime minister
Jonathan Reynolds – then business secretary
Angela Rayner – former deputy prime minister
Rachel Reeves – former chancellor (as chief secretary to the Treasury under her)
Morgan McSweeney – prime minister’s former chief of staff
Olly Robbins – Foreign Office’s then permanent undersecretary
Sources: The Guardian
