EPSTEIN SCANDAL ENGULFS UK GOVERNMENT – Gordon Brown accuses No 10 of Mandelson cover-up
Gordon Brown, the former Leader of the Labour Party, has dragged Britain’s most senior civil servant into the Mandelson scandal, questioning why he failed to launch an investigation last autumn.
The Metropolitan Police announced a criminal investigation on Tuesday after emails showed Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Brown appeared to question why Sir Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary, had not launched his own investigation when he approached him to do so last September.
Lord Mandelson, who resigned from the House of Lords on Tuesday, was Mr Brown’s business secretary and effective deputy prime minister in 2009 and 2010 when the messages were sent to the convicted paedophile.
The police announcement means that many senior figures in the New Labour era, including Lord Mandelson and Mr Brown, face being questioned.
It also threatens to engulf Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership, as the Prime Minister made Lord Mandelson the UK’s ambassador to the US despite knowing about his friendship with Epstein.
Mr Brown, the former prime minister, said in a statement he had given “relevant” information to the police and accused Lord Mandelson of an “inexcusable and unpatriotic act”.
