Peter Mandelson said the government would ‘never regret’ appointing him and denied he had ‘close contacts’ with foreign nationals, the newly released Mandelson files show.
The government has released more than a thousands documents relating to the scandal-hit appointment of Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador.
The files reveal that the ‘Prince of Darkness’ refused to give his WhatsApp messages and other information from his personal phone as part of the publication process.
The Labour big beast also schmoozed the then Foreign Secretary David Lammy to persuade him to give him the Washington job.
He told Lammy: ‘I just wanted you to know that if you were minded to appoint me I would make sure you never regret it’.
Lord Mandelson continued that it would be a ‘huge honour’ to serve, adding: ‘If you are up for it, so am I’.
It emerged in April that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommended against granting Lord Mandelson security clearance.
The Prime Minister was unaware when top Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins overruled that advice.
The Guardian has reported that his ties with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the vetting agency.
The newly released files show that Lord Mandelson admitted he had a ‘large number of personal acquaintances with foreign nationals’ during the security vetting process, but denied any of them were ‘close contacts’.
When the future US Ambassador was asked by a case assistant to fill in a foreign contacts form, he wrote: ‘. I have a large number of personal
acquaintances with foreign nationals but I would not describe these as current friendships or personal business connections.’
The case worker continued to ask Mandelson to fill in the form, writing: ‘It is prudent that we obtain sufficient information about overseas contacts that we can be confident that any potential security risks are identified.’
Mandelson also exchanged a string of WhatsApp messages with Labour cabinet members.
Douglas Alexander, Scotland Secretary who was then serving in the Department for Business and Trade, wrote to Lord Mandelson after his election to Parliament: ‘You probably don’t realise quite how influential you’ve been in this whole improbable journey’.
He added: ‘I would value your counsel on Trade’.
Lord Mandelson also write to former transport secretary Louise Haigh support her after she resigned from government over a historic fraud offence.
In a message to her on November 29, 2024 he said: ‘Lou, I am very sorry about this. You have been brave and loyal in your decision but it seems harsh given you were appointed in full knowledge.
‘But you have acted in a way that enables you to come back later and everything you say and do now should be done with that in mind. Strong and honourable.’
Another eye-catching revelation in the files is suggestions form officials that the UK gift Donald Trump a mocked-up ministerial ‘red box’ with ‘President of the United States’ inscribed upon it.
Lord Mandelson has repeatedly let it be known that he believes he has not acted criminally, did not act for personal gain and is co-operating with the police.
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