Labour heavy hitter describes 'paranoid' interactions with Mandelson
A former colleague of Peter Mandelson has told how he presumed he was speaking publicly when talking with the disgraced Lord.
Alastair Campbell says he was paranoid when discussing Government matters with the disgraced Labour peer Peter Mandelson. Campbell, who was New Labour’s Director of Communications, was speaking on the Rest is Politics alongside Rory Stewart as the pair discussed the scandal that has erupted in the wake of the latest Epstein files being released.
Recalling how he felt when speaking to Mandelson, Campbell said: “I was paranoid to the point of, I don't know how you describe it, but I was always very conscious when I was talking publicly, doing briefings, or talking privately, including to colleagues, just be very, very careful with what you know that has the potential either to move the markets or to move the political dial. Just be very, very careful.”
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The Metropolitan Police has begun an investigation into reports that Lord Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown’s Government in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008.
According to documents released last Friday by the United States Department of Justice, Mandelson allegedly advised Epstein on how to lobby the British Government in a bid to prevent the introduction of a tax on bankers’ bonuses.
The documents show how Mandelson advised Epstein to tell the head of JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon, to ‘mildly threaten’ the then Chancellor Alastair Darling on the matter, an interaction that subsequently came to pass according to Darling’s memoirs.
Speaking immediately after describing Mandelson’s advice, Campbell said: “I think this is damaging to all of us because it just looks, I don't know, it's not just the, you know, there we are, New Labour, I would argue.
“And I see part of my kind of role in life actually is making the case as to why New Labour was a successful political project. And this just kind of drags you down again.”
Campbell’s comments come as sensitive documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador are set to be released to the Intelligence Select Committee in a climbdown by Sir Keir Starmer.
No 10 confirmed that the Government would comply with a motion backed by MPs and publish documents relating to his appointment as ambassador to the US.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Peter Mandelson’s actions were unforgivable.
“He lied to the Prime Minister, hid information that has since come to light and presented Jeffrey Epstein as someone he barely knew.
“We will comply with the motion, including publishing documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment, which will show the lies he told.”
