The walls are closing in on Peter Mandelson. In a stunning escalation, Downing Street has formally called for a police inquiry into allegations that the Labour peer leaked sensitive government information to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prime Minister’s intervention marks a "most powerful blow" to Lord Mandelson’s standing, effectively severing him from the party machinery he helped build. The allegations suggest a breach of the highest order—insider trading of influence and information with a convicted sex offender. For a man who has survived multiple political scandals, this latest revelation appears to be the one wave he cannot ride out.

The Epstein Connection

The inquiry focuses on a series of emails and interactions that allegedly show Mandelson sharing privileged insights with Epstein. The implications are explosive:

• National Security: Did a senior UK figure compromise state secrets for personal gain or leverage?
• Misconduct in Public Office: The police are reviewing evidence to see if the threshold for criminal charges has been met.

A Legacy in Tatters

Sir Keir Starmer has made it clear: there is no place for this in his government. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-13)"We have asked the police to look into this," a spokesperson confirmed. Mandelson, once the Prince of Darkness who could spin his way out of anything, is now facing the cold, hard light of a criminal investigation. His resignation from the Labour Party may have been an attempt to save face, but the spectre of Epstein ensures that his political obituary is being written in the scandal sheets.