The UK government published the second tranche of records regarding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to Washington on Sunday. The bundle spans more than 1,000 pages across three volumes. Officials said the compilation required thousands of hours of work by staff to collate the information Parliament requested.
The publication represents the largest government document release before the Commons since the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War, which produced 2.6 million words across twelve volumes. The files include over 160 pages of Lord Mandelson’s personal text messages and WhatsApp communications. Officials said the Washington embassy operates like a large government department itself, with deep ties to military and intelligence agencies that limit what the public will see.
One senior government figure said Sunday would be “another one of those weeks.” Ministers said they braced for private messages to become public. Government officials said some exchanges were “excruciating,” “sycophantic,” and “cringeworthy.” The informal nature of WhatsApp means the tone of the conversations stands out, particularly when cabinet ministers reportedly praised Mandelson after he was sacked.
The government said it is not expected to include the vetting file compiled before Mandelson’s appointment. Previous reporting noted that vetting officials raised concerns about his associations with senior figures in China, Russia, and Israel. Sir Olly Robbins said in April that he granted Mandelson security clearance after putting mitigations in place. Mandelson said he does not believe security concerns existed and that details about the vetting process were muddled.
Separate concerns about commercial conflicts of interest also drew attention. Officials said Mandelson’s former consulting firm, Global Counsel, raised potential conflicts. The deputy head of mission at the embassy said they oversaw any dealings with the consulting firm’s clients to manage the issue.
Downing Street officials said the government could be through the worst of the fallout, though the situation is not entirely over. Police said their investigation into Lord Mandelson continues. Mandelson said he has not acted criminally, did not seek personal gain, and is cooperating with law enforcement.