Thank you to those who have written to me about the relationship between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.
I want to start by saying clearly that the focus of this debate must remain strongly on the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, and the need to bring all of those who enabled that vile abuse to justice. I continue to support any and all action to investigate Andrew Windsor for his role in this abuse, and for him to be stripped of all his royal titles and privileges.
I recent weeks I have been absolutely appalled by the revelations that have emerged about Peter Mandelson and his relationship to Jeffrey Epstein. While it is true that the full extent of this relationship was not known, and clear that Peter Mandelson lied extensively to the Prime Minister about the depth of the contact he had had with Epstein following his conviction for child sex offences, the mere fact that he had continued to associate with him after his conviction should have been sufficient reason for him to be blocked from the role of US Ambassador.
I have made my view clear to the government in no uncertain terms about my strength of feeling on this point and am continuing to push for there to be full accountability for those responsible for what was clearly a woefully insufficient vetting process.
I strongly welcome the full transparency the government has offered regarding details of that vetting process, including that parliament’s independent and cross-party National Security Committee – and not civil servants – will be responsible for deciding what information to release to the public and what should not be released on national security grounds. This is something I pushed for strongly this week, and I am confident the committee is sufficiently independent to make sound judgements on the need for transparency.
I also welcome the government’s full cooperation with the police investigation into potential criminal charges over Peter Mandelson appearing to leak market sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein at the height of the global financial crisis. Those actions were unforgivable.
This has been an appalling episode and one that has undermined all of the positive work our government is doing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, restore our NHS, and revitalise our high streets and town centres. But please rest assured that as your MP I will always push for the highest standards in public life and for the victims of sexual abuse to get the justice they deserve – no matter how powerful the perpetrator.