Met apologises to Lord Speaker after Mandelson tip-off error
Since being incorrectly identified as the source of evidence relating to Lord Mandelson's detention, the Metropolitan Police have apologised to the Speaker of the House of Lords.
After receiving urgent calls to find how his name was revealed, officers met Lord Forsyth earlier on Thursday.
The former ambassador to the United States was arrested at his London home on Monday after being arrested on Monday for a baseless
suggestion that he was planning to "take up permanent residence abroad, according to Lord Mandelson's lawyers.
On Wednesday, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed that he had passed on information to the police indicating that Lord Mandelson could be a flight risk.
Lord Mandelson's lawyers were twice told by the police that details of his suspected travel plans had been passed on by Lord Forsyth, according to the BBC.
The Lord Speaker denied any involvement on Tuesday evening after being first reported as the source of the referral.
Entirely inaccurate and without foundation,
he said.
Sir Lindsay told MPs on Wednesday that he had relevant
information to police and that if he'd done this in good faith,
citing it as his "duty and responsibility.
He did not give any details, but the BBC understands Sir Lindsay passed on details he received in the British Virgin Islands during a trip last week that Lord Mandelson planned to visit there.
On Wednesday, the Met apologised for inadvertently announcing
that he was the source of evidence relating to Lord Mandelson's detention.
Following Lord Forsyth's inadvertent disclosure of allegations of misconduct in public service, the force said in a tweet: "The Met has also apologised to the Speaker of the House of Lords.
Earlier this month, the Met opened an investigation into allegations that Lord Mandelson, while serving as a minister, passed on business-relevant government details to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Lord Mandelson's position, according to the BBC, has not been criminally accountable and was not motivated by financial gain.
The peer's attorneys announced that he intends to collaborate with police to "clear his name.
Lord Mandelson was taken to Wandsworth police station in London for an interview before being released on bail pending further inquiry.
According to reports, he surrendered his passport as one of his bail conditions.
In February 2025, Lord Mandelson became the British ambassador to the United States.
He was fired in September after Downing Street announced that new details about his friendship with Epstein had surfaced.
Lord Mandelson was accused of releasing a slew of documents last month, including emails between him and Epstein.
