Health Secretary Wes Streeting has taken the unprecedented step of sharing his complete WhatsApp and text message history with Lord Mandelson, covering a fourteen-month period from August 2024 to October 2025. The correspondence, released to Sky News, provides a rare glimpse into the private communications between the senior Labour figure and the disgraced peer, who was dismissed as UK ambassador to the United States over his connections to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Transparency Amid Controversy
In an exclusive interview with Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, Mr Streeting asserted he had "nothing to hide" in the messages, which he voluntarily disclosed. He firmly rejected suggestions that the exchanges indicated an "intimate friendship" with Lord Mandelson, instead characterising them as professional and political discussions. The health secretary confirmed he has not communicated with the peer in six months, distancing himself from the controversy surrounding Mandelson's dismissal from his diplomatic post.
Political Discussions and Policy Concerns
The released messages reveal substantive political dialogue between the two figures. In one particularly revealing exchange from March 2025, Streeting expressed significant concerns about Labour's electoral prospects, stating: "I fear we're in big trouble here - and I am toast at the next election." He cited the loss of Labour's safest ward in Redbridge to a Gaza independent candidate as evidence of broader political challenges.
Lord Mandelson responded with criticism of government strategy, noting: "The government doesn't have an economic philosophy which is then followed through in a programme of policies." Streeting concurred, adding: "No growth strategy at all."
Foreign Policy and International Relations
The correspondence includes detailed discussions about foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel-Palestine relations. In July 2025, Streeting advocated for British recognition of Palestine, arguing both moral and political imperatives. He wrote: "Morally, because Israel is committing war crimes before our eyes... Politically, a Commons vote will be engineered in September on recognition and we will lose it if we're not ahead of it."
Lord Mandelson expressed caution about unilateral recognition, warning it could undermine the two-state solution. The exchange demonstrates the complex diplomatic considerations facing Labour ministers during this period.
Personal Exchanges and Professional Courtesies
Beyond political discussions, the messages include personal notes and professional courtesies. In December 2024, Streeting congratulated Mandelson on his ambassadorial appointment, while earlier exchanges show the peer sharing newspaper articles and requesting contact details for mutual acquaintances.
One message from September 2024 shows Mandelson inviting Streeting to speak at the Oxford Union, with the health secretary declining due to a constituency commitment. The correspondence also includes discussions about potential US visits and meetings with international figures, including a request from Streeting for an introduction to former US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Redacted Content and Sensitive Information
Sky News has redacted one exchange from the published messages, citing sensitive personal information. The broadcaster has otherwise published the correspondence in full, providing unprecedented transparency about communications between a serving cabinet minister and a controversial political figure.
The release comes amid ongoing scrutiny of political relationships and transparency in government communications. Streeting's decision to share the messages voluntarily represents a significant departure from typical ministerial practice regarding private correspondence.
Context and Implications
The messages span a crucial period in British politics, covering:
- Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US in December 2024
- His subsequent dismissal over Epstein connections in September 2025
- Ongoing political debates about Labour's direction and electoral prospects
- Significant foreign policy discussions regarding Middle East relations
The correspondence reveals Streeting's active engagement with policy debates and political strategy during his tenure as health secretary, while also demonstrating the continued influence of established political figures like Mandelson despite their controversial associations.
As political observers analyse the released messages, questions remain about the appropriate boundaries between personal relationships and professional responsibilities in high-level politics. Streeting's transparency initiative sets a notable precedent for ministerial accountability, even as it exposes the complex web of relationships that characterise British political life.
