Metropolitan Police Issues Formal Apology to Commons Speaker Over Tip-Off Disclosure
The Metropolitan Police has formally apologized to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after inadvertently revealing that he was the source of a tip-off related to the arrest of Lord Mandelson. The force acknowledged that information was disclosed during an ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office.
Arrest and Investigation Details
Lord Mandelson, the former business secretary, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and has been released under investigation. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to police statements, the arrest followed claims that Lord Mandelson was preparing to flee the country for the British Virgin Islands. Lawyers for Lord Mandelson have characterized this claim as "baseless" and without foundation.
Speaker's Revelation and Police Response
Addressing the House of Commons before Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle revealed that he was the source of the tip-off, stating he had acted "in good faith, as is my duty and responsibility." This disclosure came after initial media reports had incorrectly identified Lord Forsyth, the Lord Speaker, as the source.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement that they had apologized to Sir Lindsay Hoyle "for inadvertently revealing information during an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office." The force emphasized that the disclosure was unintentional and occurred as part of their standard investigative procedures.
Investigation Background and Developments
Sky News understands that police officers had originally planned to interview Lord Mandelson under caution next month without making an arrest. The investigation centers on allegations that Lord Mandelson passed market-sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure in Gordon Brown's government.
Lord Forsyth is scheduled to meet with Metropolitan Police representatives on Thursday to inquire about how he was incorrectly named as the source in initial reports. Sources indicate he intends to ask why the police did not promptly correct the inaccurate reporting and issue an apology for the misidentification.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The investigation into Lord Mandelson continues after he was bailed in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The misconduct in public office probe represents a significant development in the ongoing examination of relationships between British political figures and Jeffrey Epstein.
Lord Mandelson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation. The Metropolitan Police has declined to provide additional comments beyond their published statement regarding the apology to the Commons Speaker.
