Mandelson complains police arrested him because of 'baseless' claim he was about to flee UK, and vows to clear his name

 

Mandelson complains police arrested him because of 'baseless' claim he was about to flee UK, and vows to clear his name

Lord Peter Mandelson has formally complained about his arrest on Monday, February 23, 2026, which his lawyers at Mishcon de Reya claim was triggered by a "baseless suggestion" that he was a flight risk.

Key details regarding the arrest and his response include:

Arrest Details: Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegations that he passed sensitive government information to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. He was released on bail in the early hours of Tuesday, February 24, after nine hours in custody at Wandsworth police station.

Flight Risk Allegation: His legal team stated that despite a prior agreement to attend a voluntary interview in March, police arrested him because of an "entirely false" claim that he was planning to take up permanent residence abroad—reportedly in the British Virgin Islands.

Source of the Claim: Reports from the News Agents podcast suggested the Metropolitan Police acted on a tip-off from the Lord Speaker, Michael Forsyth. A spokesperson for the Lord Speaker has described this allegation as "entirely false and without foundation".

Bail Conditions: Mandelson was forced to surrender his passport and is prohibited from leaving the country without permission.

Defense Strategy: Mandelson has vowed to clear his name and is reportedly cooperating with the investigation. His lawyers have requested that the Metropolitan Police disclose the specific evidence used to justify his arrest.