𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been hit with another bombshell over claims Cabinet ministers attempted to conceal their messages with Lord Mandelson from Parliament. It is claimed Government officials dealing with the Mandelson files had to ask ministers to hand over their messages more than once following what has been described in reports as initial reluctance.

MPs had demanded the release of documents relating to the former Labour minister’s appointment as US ambassador using a parliamentary motion known as a humble address. Thousands of files have been released so far, with the second tranche due next week. This is expected to include Lord Mandelson’s communications with ministers and other government officials while he was US ambassador.

The Telegraph reports that the Cabinet Office was forced to ask twice for the messages, because some ministers initally declined to send a full transcript of their conversations.

The newspaper, citing two sources familiar with the process, said officials to begin with had asked for communications between ministers and Lord Mandelson about their ministerial work, not personal messages.

The paper understands some ministers claimed all their correspondence with Lord Mandelson were not exactly related to their ministerial role and were therefore exempt.

Civil servants were apparently shocked after receiving no responses from some ministers.

Officials then reportedly sent a second email asking for all communications which included personal discussions.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel told The Telegraph: “Parliament voted for the release of every document in the Mandelson files, but at every stage Keir Starmer, his ministers and Labour MPs have tried to stop the public scrutiny of Mandelson’s appointment and hide the facts.

“This Labour government cannot be trusted. It has repeatedly handed jobs to disreputable political friends and put our national security at risk by appointing Mandelson, the best friend of a notorious paedophile with links to Russia and China.”

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “Ministers and former ministers have replied to requests made under the humble address process.”

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