"Among them are messages from March 2025, where Streeting said he thinks he is "toast" at the next election, and others where he criticised the government for having "no [economic] growth strategy". Writing in the Guardian, Streeting said he had decided to publish the messages "after a weekend of smear and innuendo that I have something to hide". The health secretary said he thought Lord Mandelson's appointment was "a good move" at the time."
"Streeting's team said they released all private messages between the pair from six months before Lord Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 to the present day. Some have a friendly, warmer tone, and the occasional exchange of an "x" to signal a kiss. Writing in the Guardian, Streeting said "contrary to what has been widely reported, I was not a close friend of Peter Mandelson, but I am not going to wash my hands of my actual association with him either"."
Health Secretary Wes Streeting released private messages exchanged with former US ambassador Peter Mandelson, insisting they were not close friends. The messages cover from six months before Mandelson's December 2024 appointment to the present. They include March 2025 texts where Streeting wrote he thought he was "toast" at the next election and criticised the government for having "no [economic] growth strategy". The messages show occasional friendly tones and an "x" exchange. Streeting described annual group dinners with Mandelson and noted a partner's past employment with him. Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador and resigned as a Labour member over Epstein links.
Read at www.bbc.com
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