Minister refuses to say if Mandelson should lose peerage

The Communities Secretary, Steve Reed, was guarded on Sky News when asked about files which appear to show Lord Mandelson was paid $50,000 by Epstein over two payments in June 2004, when he was a Labour MP.

The former Hartlepool MP was sacked as the ambassador to Washington DC last year after revelations of his continued contact with Epstein following his guilty plea in 2008 to soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor.

A spokesman for Lord Mandelson told the Sunday Mirror he had no recollection of receiving the payments, and did not know if the documents were genuine.

Lord Mandelson has previously offered an unequivocal apology to Epstein’s victims.

Mr Reed was asked by Sky if Lord Mandelson should be stripped of his peerage because of his association with Epstein.

He replied: “I think before taking any action like that, we need to understand exactly what’s happened. You’re asking me here about something that happened nearly 20 years ago. I don’t know the full detail of it, I wasn’t in government 20 years ago.

“I don’t know whether he declared it or not, and he should have done – the declaration rules had been brought in by then – so I think it would be for Peter Mandelson to explain whether or not that money was properly declared, and if not, then he will need to account for that.”

Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed. (Image: PA)

On the final leg of his trip to East Asia, Sir Keir had earlier suggested former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, should testify to the US congressional Epstein investigation.

He said: “I’ve always said anybody who’s got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they’re asked to do that because you can’t be victim-centred if you’re not prepared to do that.”

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said both Andrew and Lord Mandelson should “give all the assistance they possibly can” to authorities investigating Jeffrey Epstein.

The senior Conservative added: “It’s pretty horrifying to see just how extensive Jeffrey Epstein’s nefarious activities extended. Horrifying to see how many people were involved embroiled in his network.”

Being pictured or mentioned in the Epstein files is not an indicator of any wrongdoing.