MI6 was told that Peter Mandelson could be a risk to British security because of his connections with Russian intelligence, it was claimed last night.
The revelation that the alarm was sounded more than 15 years ago will heap further pressure on embattled Sir Keir Starmer over his decision to appoint Mandelson as Washington ambassador, despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Now, Brussels intelligence sources have told this newspaper that EU security services warned their British equivalents in 2008 that Moscow was targeting Mandelson through his relationship with Kremlin-linked oligarch Oleg Deripaska – and had been tracking his relationship with Epstein since 2006.
As a result of the tip-off, Mandelson is understood to have been interviewed by British security officials.
In 2005, Mandelson, then EU trade commissioner, flew by private jet to Siberia where he and billionaire Deripaska took part in a ‘banya’ sauna session, in which participants are hit with birch leaves.
Then, in 2008, Mandelson and George Osborne, then shadow chancellor, were embroiled in controversy after attending a party on the oligarch’s 238ft yacht moored off Corfu.
Mandelson, who denied doing any favours for Deripaska, had overseen the EU’s lowering of tariffs on aluminium, which benefited the Russians’ companies.
The revelation that the alarm was sounded more than 15 years ago will heap further pressure on embattled Sir Keir Starmer over his decision to appoint Mandelson (right) as Washington ambassador, despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein (left)
Brussels intelligence sources have told this newspaper that EU security services warned their British equivalents in 2008 that Moscow was targeting Mandelson through his relationship with Kremlin-linked oligarch Oleg Deripaska (pictured with Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2017)
They also revealed they had been tracking Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein (pictured, with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell) since 2006
Meanwhile, US diplomatic sources say Dame Karen Pierce, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, had explicitly warned No 10 not to appoint Mandelson as her successor because of his ‘unsavoury’ associations.
The revelations will fuel demands from some Labour MPs that Sir Keir should step down in favour of a caretaker prime minister, with a full leadership contest to be held in the summer.
An MoS investigation into the Epstein files can also disclose:
- Mandelson was involved in a bid by Epstein to buy a luxury Moscow penthouse near the Kremlin
- Epstein regularly visited Russia, including at the invitation of the feared FSB intelligence agency which replaced the KGB
- The paedophile cultivated a relationship with a high-ranking Russian government minister who was trained at Russia’s spy school
- Epstein used Mandelson to foster links with Deripaska, who had close ties to Vladimir Putin.
Last week’s MoS report into fears Epstein’s procurement of women for his associates was backed by the Kremlin led to the launch of an official investigation in Poland.
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: ‘I would like to joke about such versions, but let’s not waste our time.’
In yesterday’s Daily Mail, royal biographer Andrew Lownie revealed he had seen a confidential US report which suggests Russian intelligence developed ‘networks using figures such as Jeffery [sic] Epstein for access to political and business leaders and to control any possible domestic law enforcement actions’.
Citing evidence from an agent in the field, the report states that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was deliberately targeted by Russia using Epstein’s depraved sexual activities to pull him in.
American intelligence experts believe Epstein was inducted into the world of espionage via business deals with Robert Maxwell – the disgraced media magnate who, like Epstein, died in murky circumstances.
He was also the father of the financier’s right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell.
According to separate UK and US security sources, Mandelson received ‘significant funds’ from Russian intelligence-linked sources who paid him for consultancy services.
Moscow agents are said to have described him as ‘very greedy’ and ‘always looking for money’, although there is no suggestion he was aware any money was linked to the Kremlin.
Documents released in the US reveal that in October 2011, Mandelson emailed Epstein to say he was ‘sitting in Club 35 in Moscow after manicure, pedicure, massage, swim, waiting for omelette’.
Peter Mandelson, who denied doing any favours for Deripaska, had, as then EU trade commissioner, overseen the EU’s lowering of tariffs on aluminium, which benefited the Russian’s companies. Pictured: Mr Mandelson in his underwear in Epstein’s Paris flat, speaking to an unknown woman, in an image from the Epstein Files
The revelations will fuel demands from some Labour MPs that Sir Keir (pictured with Mandelson in February last year) should step down in favour of a caretaker Prime Minister, with a full leadership contest to be held in the summer
In yesterday’s Daily Mail, royal biographer Andrew Lownie revealed he had seen a confidential US report which states Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (pictured, kneeling over a female, in an image appearing in the Epstein Files) was deliberately targeted by Russia using Epstein’s depraved sexual activities to pull him in
American intelligence experts believe Epstein was induced into the world of espionage via business deals with Robert Maxwell – the disgraced media magnate who, like Epstein, died in murky circumstances. Pictured: Robert Maxwell (centre), with his daughter Ghislaine (left) and wife Elisabeth (right) in around 1990
And in 2013, Epstein emailed Mandelson, saying he knew the Labour grandee was in St Petersburg.
Mandelson described the city as ‘a rave’, to which Epstein asked whether ‘its [sic] for gays’. Mandelson responded: ‘Er no, tastey [sic] models and dancing.’
The files also show that the paedophile regularly visited Russia and, once there, travelled extensively. At least one visa appears to have been sponsored by the FSB.
Documents expose how Epstein exploited his relationship with Mandelson to try to secure a meeting with Deripaska, a crony of Putin’s who was sanctioned by the UK after the invasion of Ukraine.
In an email in November 2010, Epstein asked Mandelson: ‘Will Oleg either be in Paris, Thurs till Sunday, or Moscow next week[?]’
Three days later, Epstein’s assistant appeared to email Deripaska’s office, writing: ‘I was given your email by Peter Mandelson. I’m writing to see what the possibilities are of Jeffrey and Oleg to meet in Moscow next week Tuesday or Wednesday? Or possibly Oleg has plans to be in Paris next week?’ It is unclear whether the meeting took place.
The files also show that Mandelson offered to help Epstein secure a Russian visa via Deripaska.
Epstein emailed Mandelson on November 9, 2010, saying: ‘I do not have a visa for Russia, it is a bank holiday in Paris today… any ideas how I can get one?’
The next day Mandelson emailed Epstein to say an associate ‘can get visa through OD’, thought to refer to Deripaska.
The documents also show that between 2014 and 2018, Epstein cultivated a relationship with Sergey Belyakov, a former Russian minister and a graduate of the FSB Academy spy school.
In 2015, Epstein asked him for ‘a favour’: ‘There is a Russian girl from Moscow. She is attempting to blackmail a group of powerful businessmen in New York. It is bad for business for everyone involved… Suggestions?’ Belyakov offered to help.
In January 2016, Belyakov told Epstein he had a new position at the Russian sovereign wealth fund, headed by powerful Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Epstein appears to have attended a board meeting related to the fund in September 2011.
Mandelson’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment last night.
Don’t give that man my job, said outgoing ambassador
By Glen Owen, Political Editor
The British ambassador to Washington who made way for Peter Mandelson warned Downing Street not to give him the job, diplomatic sources in America have said.
Dame Karen Pierce is understood to have told No 10 in 2024, when Mandelson’s appointment was being considered, that it would be ‘too great a risk’ because of his ‘unsavoury’ connections.
Downing Street was also warned by Labour peer Lord Glasman that Dame Karen should not be rushed out of the job because she had established a strong working relationship with Donald Trump.
Dame Karen Pierce (pictured at the UN Security Council in 2018) is understood to have told No 10 in 2024, when Mandelson’s appointment was being considered, that it would be ‘too great a risk’ because of his ‘unsavoury’ connections
Lord Glasman wrote in a memo to Downing Street Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney that Dame Karen was doing ‘a fine holding job’ and had ‘not p***ed them [Trump] off, which is a great achievement in itself’.
A source said: ‘Karen made it clear to No 10 that she thought giving Peter the job would backfire, and so it proved. But they dismissed it as her trying to keep her plum position.’
Sources in Trump’s incoming administration also made it clear through diplomatic channels that they would have preferred Dame Karen to stay on in the role.
Mandelson was selected from a final shortlist of three, which included former Chancellor George Osborne and, bizarrely, TV adventurer Bear Grylls, an Old Etonian former SAS soldier who became Chief Scout and is well known in America through his programme Man vs Wild.
A government spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to transparency and will comply with the motion to ensure documents are made available to Parliament as soon as possible.’
