See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy GETHIN HICKS, REPORTER Updated: 17:27 BST, 1 June 2026
The turmoil at the heart of Keir Starmer's Government has been exposed following the disclosure of over 1,000 pages of material linked to the scandalous appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.Messages between Labour ministers and aides published as part of the 'Mandelson files' show infighting and sniping abound, as some suggest things 'don't look good' for the Prime Minister.Mandelson was fired from the role - Britain's most important ambassadorial post - after nine months.It has since emerged that he did not pass vetting for the job amidst his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, which had continued for far longer than previously disclosed. The fallout could yet cost Sir Keir the keys to Downing Street.Starmer himself has kept a low profile today - and Number 10 has confirmed the PM will not be commenting on the contents of the tranche today.
Follow the latest updates as we unpick the Mandelson Files:16:22Mandelson files are costing government more than £1millionThe Mandelson files have cost the Cabinet Office more than £1million, Darren Jones told the House of Commons this afternoon. 'The documents we are publishing today are one of the largest government publications ever laid before this House,' he said.'This disclosure process has been wide ranging, costing the Cabinet Office alone over £1million.' 16:19Starmer's authority was 'destroyed' by revolt that blocked welfare reformsThe newly released files have revealed how Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden once complained that his own MPs just want him to find people to tax so they can hand out more benefits.He also candidly admitted that Keir Starmer's authority was 'destroyed' by a revolt last summer that blocked welfare reforms.16:13Documents are missing from release, Tory MP claims Alex Burghart, Conservative shadow secretary for Northern Ireland, has claimed many documents are missing in the release and that some ministers did not hand over their WhatsApp messages.He added that Sir Keir Starmer is 'almost non-existent' in the 1,000-page files.'It is as though somehow he appointed Peter Mandelson as ambassador without any trace of that decision at all,' he said. It comes after a spokesperson for the government said the release will provide 'unprecedented government transparency'. 16:01Welcome to the Daily Mail's Mandelson Files liveblogGood evening. The 'Mandelson Files' - a tranche of documents and messages related to Labour's disastrous decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador - have been published today following a demand from MPs.Their contents have exposed a deep rift running through the heart of the Labour Government amidst the tsunami of criticism that came after it was revealed that Mandelson's friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had continued for longer than he had previously disclosed.We'll be picking through the files' most explosive revelations tonight, but you can read our primer on the files here, by UK Political Editor James Tapsfield:
