There was considerable pressure on Sir Keir Starmer this morning to indicate what action might be taken against his former US ambassador, Lord Mandelson. In addition to his ill-advised friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, Mandelson has been accused of leaking confidential government information to the convicted paedophile.

Despite his previous, improbable, resurrections it is impossible to imagine the Prince of Darkness bouncing back from this disgrace

The matter has been referred to the Metropolitan Police, and it has been alleged that it could potentially mean Mandelson being prosecuted for misconduct in public office, a criminal offence which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

There is also the question of whether Mandelson should remain in the House of Lords and if his peerage might be removed. The Prime Minister has already said that Lord Mandelson should lose his title, having brought the House of Lords into disrepute.

Mandelson himself has already resigned his membership of the Labour party to avoid causing it ‘further embarrassment’. However, it is not yet clear whether he will take the further step of voluntarily leaving the Lords.

Assuming that Mandelson cannot be persuaded to relinquish........

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