After months of back and forth, today the government finally released the latest tranche of the Mandy documents, which have become their own spin-off version of the original incriminating releases – a sort of Holby City to the Epstein Files’ Casualty. There are reams of them and, as some backbenchers pointed out stroppily in the Commons today, the government’s decision to release them late this afternoon hardly made it easy to garner much in time for questions to the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary, Darren Jones, today.

However, a cursory look at the content shows a mixed bag. Doubtless more will be revealed as a fine-tooth comb is applied. Some ‘revelations’ are eminently predictable – what journalists would call a ‘dog bites man’ story. Torsten Bell emerging as a slimy and nakedly ambitious Mandy cupbearer is one such example. ‘You. Are. Here.’ he gushes upon Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.

Some ‘revelations’ are eminently predictable – what journalists would call a ‘dog bites man’ story.

Some ‘revelations’ are eminently predictable – what journalists would call a ‘dog bites man’ story.

We learn that........

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