Second batch of Mandelson files won't be published this month

"The second tranche of documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the US will not be published this month. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said the papers would be released after Parliament's upcoming recess to give MPs "sufficient time to review the material". Jones gave the update in the House of Commons after the committee of MPs reviewing the documents said some files were being withheld and redacted on new grounds."

"Jones denied Conservative accusations of a cover-up and insisted the government had taken the "normal approach" to redacting files. Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador last year after the emergence of new revelations about the extent of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In February, MPs voted to force the government to publish all papers relating to the appointment through a parliamentary process called a humble address."

"The government initially opposed the motion, arguing that it did not want to publish material that could damage national security or diplomatic relations. But in a last-minute compromise, the government agreed to first send sensitive documents to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which would decide what could and could not be published. The first tranche of documents was published in March."

"In a statement last week, Lord Beamish - chairman of the ISC - said the committee had received 337 documents and had reached a decision on all the reductions requested by the government. He said it was now for the government to publish the documents within 28 sitting days of Parliament. But he raised a number of concerns, including additional redaction grounds and some documents being withheld."

The second tranche of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK ambassador to the US will not be published this month. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said the papers will be released after Parliament’s upcoming recess so MPs have sufficient time to review the material. Jones said the government used a normal approach to redacting files and denied accusations of a cover-up. MPs reviewing the documents reported that some files were being withheld and redacted on new grounds. Lord Mandelson was previously sacked after revelations about the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. After a February vote, sensitive documents were first sent to the Intelligence and Security Committee, which received 337 documents and decided on reductions, while concerns remained about additional redaction grounds and withheld documents.

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