© Tom Blewitt & Zack Griffiths – Predator Awareness

Sir Keir Starmer has handed a dossier detailing Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein to the Metropolitan Police, after allegations emerged that the former Labour peer shared confidential government information with the convicted paedophile financier during the 2008 global financial crisis.

The move follows the latest tranche of Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice, which include emails suggesting Mandelson discussed sensitive government business with Epstein and may have sought his help lobbying ministers over a proposed tax on bankers’ bonuses in 2009.

The documents also contain bank records indicating Epstein transferred nearly $75,000 to Mandelson between 2003 and 2004 — payments Mandelson has said he has “absolutely no recollection” of receiving.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the former Labour peer had “let the country down” and confirmed his Government is moving “at pace” to remove Mandelson from the House of Lords.

The Prime Minister raised the issue directly at Cabinet, where his official spokesman said Sir Keir had addressed “recent developments relating to Peter Mandelson.”

“The Prime Minister said he was appalled by the information that had emerged over the weekend in the Epstein files,” the spokesman said.

“He said the alleged passing-on of emails of highly sensitive Government business was disgraceful, adding that he was not reassured that the totality of information had yet emerged.

“The Prime Minister told cabinet that Peter Mandelson should no longer be a member of the House of Lords or use the title, and said he had asked the Cabinet Secretary to review all available information regarding Mandelson’s contact with Jeffrey Epstein during his time serving as a government minister.

“He said he’d made it clear the Government would cooperate with the police in any inquiries they carried out, but he said the Government had to press and go further, working at speed in the Lords, including legislatively if necessary.

“He reiterated that there was a need to move at pace.”

In a separate statement, the Cabinet Office said:

“An initial review of the documents released in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice … found that they contain likely market-sensitive information surrounding the 2008 financial crash and official activities thereafter to stabilise the economy.

“Only people operating in an official capacity had access to this information and (there were) strict handling conditions to ensure it was not available to anyone who could potentially benefit from it financially.

“It appears these safeguards were compromised. In light of this information the Cabinet Office has referred this material to the police.”

Sir Keir added that he was “not reassured that the totality of the information” relating to Mandelson’s connections with Epstein had “yet emerged”.

Mandelson — whose position in the House of Lords is now in question — has acknowledged a “lapse in judgment” after it emerged Epstein funded an osteopathy course for his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, in 2009 while the Government was dealing with the global financial crisis.

Speaking to The Times, Mandelson said:

“In retrospect, it was clearly a lapse in our collective judgment for Reinaldo to accept this offer. At the time it was not a consequential decision.”

He denied that this created any vulnerability to bribery, despite emails suggesting Epstein lobbied him over banker bonus rules.

“There was non-stop discussion from the entire industry about reforming the banks and how to strike the right balance in regulation,” Mandelson said.

He added:

“The idea that giving Reinaldo an osteopath bursary is going to sway mine or anyone else’s views about banking policy is risible.”

Documents released in recent days indicate Mandelson and Epstein were in regular contact over a prolonged period, further intensifying scrutiny of their relationship.

Downing Street confirmed that officials are drafting legislation that would allow Mandelson’s peerage to be removed “as quickly as possible,” potentially through a new law passed within weeks.

Duncan Hames, Director of Policy at Transparency International UK, said the affair would deepen public mistrust in politics.

“This whole saga will just reinforce concerns that the public have,” he told LBC News.

“That those with money also have privileged access to power and use that in their own interests.”