How we built tools to search through the Mandelson filespublished at 18:56 BST

18:56 BST

By Barbara Metzler

A first look at what the latest batch of Mandelson files reveals can be done by simply checking for words like “Starmer”, “Trump” and “tariffs”.

To go deeper into the documents requires a more detailed search, and we’re using artificial intelligence (AI) to help us do that.

AI can do more than search for a particular word, it can also return results based on its meaning. So rather than return results for just the word “embarrassing” it will look for language that meets the definition too.

Of course, anything the AI tool reveals will be double checked by journalists who will read the original source. Using artificial intelligence just speeds up the process of finding the most relevant documents.

With more than 1,500 pages of material about Mandelson released today, we also need resources that can help BBC journalists navigate them at speed.

We’re using tools we developed when the US Department of Justice released documents about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The tool we developed allows us to download large files and split them into manageable chunks.

Joe Pike
Political correspondent

As opposition parties pounce on cabinet minister Pat McFadden's private admission of how some Labour MPs view the welfare state, the government is trying to fight back.

• As a reminder, before he was work and pensions secretary, McFadden described conversations to Mandelson that he had with other Labour politicians about the welfare system and public spending. "Every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others'," he wrote. "They're asking the wrong questions"

“Pat has said publicly many times that the question we should ask is not what are you entitled to, but how can we change your life?", a spokesperson says.

“That has been his whole approach as work and pensions secretary, focusing on how we best spread work and opportunities to young people in particular, rather than writing them off as the previous government did.”

Bad news boomerang of Mandelson's appointment continues to whizz aroundpublished at 18:21 BST

18:21 BST

Chris Mason
Political editor

This is a snapshot into how modern government functions - by phone, by email, and by WhatsApp.

Text exchanges as a real-time substitute for snatched verbal conversation, capturing contemporaneous mood, instinct and private views.

Take the seizing by the Conservatives of Pat McFadden’s private remarks about the alleged squeamishness of Labour MPs to cut benefits - it won’t be the last we hear of that.

And the ongoing trawling of more than 1,500 pages files has mileage in it yet. But two things stand out about the context of this now, versus earlier revelations in this saga.

Firstly, diminishing returns have kicked in - how much more capacity is there really for jaw-dropping revelations about the Lord Mandelson soap opera?

And secondly, the obvious political corollary of all this - the political damage inflicted on the prime minister - happens against a backdrop of his authority draining anyway after last month’s election results and a leadership race in all but name going on under his nose.

But clearly the government’s week would be rather better without all of this.

The bad news boomerang of Lord Mandelson’s appointment continues to whizz around and whack this government at regular intervals - and the sustained and ongoing headaches it inflicts upon them.

Mandelson shared thoughts on 'next steps' after Trump's tariff announcementpublished at 18:16 BST

18:16 BST

By Ben Chu

The day after US President Donald Trump announced his sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs on 2 April 2025 Peter Mandelson wrote an email to No 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins.

The email, dated 3 April 2025, begins: “A day after President Trump’s tariff announcement, some initial observations from here and thoughts on next steps.”

The rest of the email is missing, presumably redacted.

On 8 May 2025 a trade agreement that would reduce the new tariffs imposed on the UK by the US was agreed.

Mandelson's take on Trump's controversial bill redacted - it would be a fascinating insightpublished at 18:01 BST

18:01 BST

Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Information at risk of undermining national security or international relations has been redacted from these files.

And it's interesting to look at some of the documents where large swathes have been blocked out.

In July last year, Lord Mandelson wrote a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, titled: "Reflections on the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act'."

That was the piece of legislation in the US which introduced sweeping tax cuts, reductions in funding for healthcare and food benefits and a boost to defence and border spending.

It was incredibly controversial in Washington, and was framed by the Democrats as taking away money from low-income families to give tax cuts to the rich.

Getting to see Lord Mandelson’s thoughts about such a crucial piece of legislation would be a fascinating insight into the sort of advice he was sending back to London about Trump’s America.

But the entire letter from Lord Mandelson to Rachel Reeves is redacted.

Image source, Getty Images

Documents in the latest batch of files show Lord Mandelson repeatedly lobbied several government ministers in his unsuccessful attempt to become chancellor of the University of Oxford.

Mandelson spoke to several Parliamentary Labour Party members, all Oxford University alumni, including Emma Reynolds, Shabana Mahmood, Ed Miliband, Torsten Bell, Georgia Gould, Ellie Reeves, Kirsty McNeill and James Murray.

Between 3 August and 28 October 2024, Mandelson urged Reynolds to register for the vote and contribute to Labour's "first real shot" of having an Oxford Chancellor from their party. The string of messages appears to have been unanswered by Reynolds.

Mahmood, when also lobbied by Mandelson in August 2024, seems not to have replied either.

Mandelson ran for the post in 2024, finishing fourth out of 38 candidates.

The position, which dates back at least 800 years, is now held by former Conservative Party leader William Hague.

For context, Mandelson studied philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Oxford before entering politics. Here's a reminder of his early life, political career and fallout:

Rupert Carey
BBC Verify

Peter Mandelson said he was "getting very worried about Chagos" in a message to Matthew Doyle - the then No 10 communications chief - sent on 18 January 2025.

Doyle's response and four further messages between the pair - over a six-minute period - have been redacted, presumably on the grounds of national security.

It is in reference to the Chagos Islands - a British overseas territory. Starmer's government wanted to cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while paying £101m ($136m) a year to lease back a joint UK-US military base on the largest island Diego Garcia.

The deal has been shelved after US President Donald Trump called it an "act of total weakness" - despite his administration expressing support for it previously.

Image source, PA Media

The WhatsApp message that will likely be hugely damagingpublished at 17:23 BST

17:23 BST

Joe Pike
Political correspondent

A single Whatsapp message from cabinet minister Pat McFadden to Lord Mandelson is likely to be hugely damaging, and opposition parties have already jumped on it.

Before he was work and pensions secretary, McFadden described conversations he had with other Labour politicians about the welfare system and public spending: "Every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others'... they're asking the wrong questions."

Conservative leader Kemi Badeoch has responded that "Pat McFadden has said in private what he and the prime minister deny in public".

She argues that Labour is now "the Welfare Party", and adds: "They think our taxes are their money to spend, rather than the result of the hard work of the people in our country who deserve so much better."

A spokesperson for the work and pensions secretary said McFadden has "fully complied with the humble address and handed over all messages".

"His only contact with Peter Mandelson since he left government has been to urge him to think about the victims in all this and apologise to them."

Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent

There is a focus on Mandelson's vetting after it emerged a few months ago that the UK security vetting team recommended against giving him clearance need to become ambassador to the US.

That process culminated in a nine-page summary document which is believed to outline issues that the process threw up, and gave the explicit recommendation not to grant clearance.

One source said the document contained "juicy" aspects of the vetting - which will not be published today after the Met Police asked for it to be held back.

It has been seen by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which has been involved in today's publication.

There are many other vetting documents that the government has said are not in scope of this process. That means not even the ISC got to see those files.

The committee's chair Lord Beamish criticised the withholding of documents last month and said the government "does not currently have the authority to so do" without agreement from the ISC.

It's understood the government received legal advice which said that any sharing of the more extensive documents would constitute a risk to national security.

The BBC understands Lord Mandelson doesn't believe there were any security concerns, wasn't asked to do anything to deal with any and there has been a muddling of key details relating to these claims.

Image source, UK Parliament

Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts says "it remains obvious that Epstein's victims simply weren't on the radar of the boys' club in control at No 10".

In response, Jones says No 10 isn't just ran by men, but agrees that it's important there is a "diversity of view" in the government's decision making.

Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart says ministers showed a "staggering lack of judgement" over Mandelson's vetting, and questioned why so much business relating to "one of the most controversial public appointments in recent years" took place on WhatsApp.

Jones said in response that non-corporate communication channels, including WhatsApp, can be used between ministers and senior officials in government. But, he says, when a decision is made it must be recorded on official channels.

The session in the Commons with the PM's Chief of Staff Darren Jones has now come to an end, stick with us as we continue to comb through the latest batch of so-called Mandelson files.

Image source, House of Commons

Responding to Jones in the Commons, Conservative shadow secretary for Northern Ireland Alex Burghart claims many documents are missing in the release and that some ministers have not handed over their WhatsApp messages.

Burghart adds that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is "almost non-existent" in the 1,000 pages of newly-released files.

"It is as though somehow he appointed Peter Mandelson as ambassador without any trace of that decision at all," he adds, calling it "beggar's belief".

A government spokesperson earlier said the release will provide "unprecedented government transparency".

Prior to the release it was made clear the vetting file on Mandelson would not be included. It’s understood the Metropolitan Police have asked for it to be held back while they investigate him on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing.

Burghart argues that the documents show that the PM "did not follow the instructions he was given by then cabinet secretary on 11 August 2024", when he was told to get security vetting done "before the appointment was confirmed".

"It is a failure visible from space. It is failure that will define this prime minister's premiership."

Withering quips and a constant critic: Mandelson's negativity about Starmer is clear to seepublished at 16:20 BST

16:20 BST

Joe Pike
Political correspondent

The negativity about Keir Starmer and his government is plain to see among these reams of private messages.

Lord Mandelson seems to be a constant critic although, to be fair to the peer, he has experience from serving under three prime ministers.

Mandelson claims that former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney effectively viewed the PM's instincts as weak, and that Starmer has always been on a "cycle" of "advance/ buckle/ advance/ buckle".

The BBC has approached Morgan McSweeney for comment.

Most of the Labour peers withering quips come in messages to cabinet minister Pat McFadden.

Mandelson says that the Number 10 operation is "beleaguered and bereft".

He argues that they "don't work as a team, they are not led and none of them really knows what Keir thinks or wants."

But his final sentence is utterly condescending: "In fact most of them don't think Keir knows what he wants."

The latest Mandelson files - in numberspublished at 16:15 BST

16:15 BST

By Thomas Copeland

Looking at the contents pages for the documents released today by the government we get an idea of how much correspondence has been disclosed relating to Lord Mandelson’s time as UK ambassador to Washington.

The files are spread over three volumes and 1,504 pages. In total, we can see there are:

• 340 emails, or email chains
• 56 separate WhatsApp conversations, some running to hundreds of messages
• 15 letters
• Notes from 26 meetings

Today’s release is more than 10 times the size of the files published on 11 March which amounted to one 147-page PDF document.

Jones confirms Mandelson's vetting file - which has not been included in this tranche of documents - has been shared with the Intelligence and Security Committee.

It’s understood the Metropolitan Police have asked for the file to be held back while they investigate him on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing.

Jones says it was shared with the committee for the purpose of agreeing redactions, so that it can be published "when we are in a position to do so".

"Highly sensitive personal data inputs" collected during the interview process - such as how much money an individual might have, or personal relationships - hasn't been shared, Jones explains, to protect "the integrity of the whole system".

The government believes - with the exception of the documents currently withheld at the request at the police - it has "duly discharged the duties set out in the humble address", Jones says.

Jones says over 300 individual documents were referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee for approval on redactions.

He confirms that no material has been redacted on the grounds of prejudice to national security or international relations without the committee's approval.

Jones then addresses the Metropolitan Police investigation into Mandelson, saying the force has asked for some material to be withheld due to the ongoing investigation.

This material will be published at the conclusion of the investigation or when it is no longer prejudicial to publish it.

People might have questions on what they perceive to be "missing messages", Jones adds.

"Some messages may not have been backed up where devices may have been changed, or disappearing messages were turned on for reasonable and permitted reasons."

As a reminder, you can follow along with Jones's comments in the Commons by clicking watch live above.

Image source, House of Commons

Turning to the Commons now, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones starts by saying it is important to remember Epstein's victims and his crimes against "countless women and girls".

He says that the second tranche of documents, which has just been released, is one of the largest government publications ever and cost the Cabinet Office alone over £1m.

He says that time is needed to go through the documents and there will be a general debate on Wednesday so further questions can take place.

While Darren Jones is speaking in the Commons, we're filtering through more than 1,000 pages of newly-released documents relating to Peter Mandelson.

Here's a recap of what we've seen so far:

• Mandelson said the government would "never regret" his appointment as US ambassador in a handwritten letter to then Foreign Secretary David Lammy
• The files show that when the government asked Mandelson to hand over his WhatsApp messages, the peer "declined to comply"
• PM Keir Starmer "lacks verve", Mandelson told cabinet minister Pat McFadden in May last year. He also said that No 10 requires a "complete revamp"
• Although the much discussed vetting file for Mandelson to become ambassador is not included in the document dump, BBC Political Correspondent Joe Pike notes that there is discussion included in the documents over his clearance

In case you need a reminder of what the files are all about, here's a brief look at why they matter:

Image source, House of Commons

As we continue to trawl through the latest batch of the so-called Mandelson files, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones has started speaking in the House of Commons.

You can watch live at the top of this page, and stay with us for all of the latest updates on what Jones says, as well as more details from the tranche of files.

Lord Mandelson was critical of the government getting rid of VAT exemptions for private schools, his messages show.

Mandelson spoke briefly about the policy in a text exchange with the Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Angela Smith on 31 August 2024.

The government introduced VAT on school fees in January 2025.

Baroness Smith wrote there was "grumpiness on our side from more on our side than I'd like on getting rid of the VAT exemption in private schools and the retirement age."

She adds that Lords reform "is always interesting" and that it is great to be back in government.

Responding, Mandelson says: "I am afraid I think the VAT policy was probably unwise".

Files show that Peter Mandelson suggested Prime Minister Keir Starmer is "consistently going for direction B" in a text exchange with Pat McFadden.

In a conversation in July 2025, Mandelson told McFadden: "I went in to No 10 after I saw you. It is beleaguered and bereft. It requires complete revamp and infusion of purpose and confidence to get anywhere."

While the two discussed staff in No 10, Mandelson suggests the team around Starmer "are not led and none of them really know what Keir thinks or wants. In fact most of them don’t think Keir knows what he wants".

In the exchange, which took place on 30 July 2025, Mandelson suggests Starmer is consistently choosing "direction B" over direction A.

"His recanting on his immigration speech, on welfare, now Gaza," he lists, adding: "There is definitely a “let Keir be Keir” trend. This is what Morgan [McSweeney] senses and so it is particularly acute for him".

Mandelson adds: "His view from when Keir first stood is that the cycle has been the same, advance/buckle/advance/buckle."