British MPs have approved the release of documents relating to former minister Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the United States.
It came after Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed down from his original plans for Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Chris Wormald to decide which files could not be released on national security grounds or because they could prejudice international relations.
Under pressure from Labour Party MPs, led by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Mr Starmer accepted the decision could be made by Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) of the Houses of Parliament instead.
However, the government said that the documents would not be released immediately after a request from police.
Earlier, Mr Starmer told the House of Commons that he knew about Mr Mandelson's ongoing friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed him as ambassador.
But he said the former EU commissioner "lied repeatedly" about the extent of the relationship.
Mr Mandelson, a political appointment rather than a career diplomat, was sacked from his Washington role last September over his links with Epstein, who died in 2019.
Documents released as part of the US Department of Justice’s Epstein Files raised fresh concerns in recent days.
Watch: Keir Starmer says Peter Mandelson 'betrayed' UK
Meanwhile, London's Metropolitan Police has told the British government not to release "certain documents" that would "undermine" their investigation into Mr Mandelson, a former Northern Ireland secretary.
Minister Chris Ward told the House of Commons that "the material will not be released today because of the conversation with the Metropolitan Police over that, but it will be released as quickly as possible, in line with the process set out".
There was "a lot of material" to go through, he said.
Documents will be released by the government, working with lawyers or, for material deemed to potentially conflict with national security or foreign relations, it will be passed to the ISC to decide, he said.
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said the police force had "no jurisdiction" over the chamber.
"It will be whether the government provides or not. But just to let you know, they cannot dictate to this house."
The opposition Conservative Party had tabled a motion to compel the government to release "all papers relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment".
This included work carried out by the Cabinet Office and emails between Mr Mandelson and his ally Morgan McSweeney, Mr Starmer’s chief of staff.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested the ISC could decide what documents could be released, but the prime minister insisted the government's legal teams should make the judgement.
Labour MPs also pushed for the ISC to be given a key role.
Behind-the-scenes negotiations to avoid a party revolt culminated in Mr Starmer tabling a last-minute change to allow the committee to have sight of the documents.
Mr Mandelson has resigned from Labour and the House of Lords since the latest tranche of Epstein Files was released in the US.
They appear to show him passing potentially market-sensitive information to his friend in 2009, while he was business secretary.
Mr Mandelson has been approached for comment.
He has yet to speak publicly, but the BBC said it understood that he maintained he did not act criminally and his actions were not for personal gain.
The broadcaster reported that Mr Mandelson argued he had sought Epstein’s expertise in the national interest before the financial crisis.
After MPS passed the motion, the government said that it would comply and publish documents that would show the "lies" told by the former minister.
A 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."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for the European Anti-Fraud Office to investigate Mr Mandelson's time as EU trade commissioner from 2004 to 2008.
Mr Farage said that "potential fraud, corruption and ethics violations" were committed by the ex-minister, based on files that appeared to show him leaking the EU’s €500 billion bailout of Greece hours before it was publicly announced.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump made a fresh plea for Americans to move on from the Epstein scandal.
Former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary will testify in Congress later this month.
Mr Trump insisted that he had been cleared by the newest trove of files as he faced renewed questions at the White House over Epstein.
"Nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people.
"But I think it's time now for the country to maybe get on to something else like health care or something that people care about.
President Trump added that it was "not a Republican, it's a Democrat problem", in a bid to turn the issue back to the Clintons, and away from the mention in the files of allies including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and billionaire Elon Musk.
"It's a shame," he said of the Clintons.
Gates regrets 'every minute' with Epstein
Billionaire Bill Gates voiced regret over "every minute" he spent with Epstein as his ex-wife Melinda said he still had questions to answer over his relationship with him.
Among the documents released was a draft email in which Epstein alleged that Mr Gates engaged in extramarital affairs.
He claimed that their relationship ranged from "helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls, to facilitating his illicit trysts, with married women".
Responding, Mr Gates said: "Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologise".
"That email was never sent. The email is false," he told 9News Australia. "I don't know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?"
Mr Gates said that he met Epstein in 2011 and had several dinners with him over three years, but never visited his Caribbean island and did not have relations with women.
"The focus was always, he knew a lot of very rich people, and he was saying he could get them to give money to global health. In retrospect, that was a dead end."
A spokesperson for the Microsoft co-founder issued a similar denial after the files were released.
"The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame," the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Melinda French Gates told US National Public Radio that the controversy brought back "memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage".
"For me, it's personally hard whenever those details come up.
"Whatever questions remain there of what - I can't even begin to know all of it - those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me."
The couple divorced in 2021.
Former prince leaves home on royal estate
British police said they were "assessing" claims by a second woman who said she had been trafficked to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last October.
Pictures in the latest files showed the former prince kneeling on all fours over a woman lying on the floor.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who has denied any wrongdoing, paid a multi-million euro settlement in 2022 to Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre without making any admission of guilt. She died by suicide last year.
The former prince's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has also been caught up in the scandal with a series of embarrassing emails to the paedophile.
Her charity, 'Sarah's Trust', is closing down.
Meanwhile, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has moved out of his home on the Windsor estate.
The younger brother of King Charles faces renewed pressure to explain his close ties to Epstein.
The 65-year-old, who has denied any wrongdoing, left his mansion earlier than had been planned, the BBC reported.
Someone's name in the files does not imply any wrongdoing but the documents revealed connections between Epstein and public figures who have often downplayed - or even denied - such ties.
Additional reporting AFP
