United News of Bangladesh

British politician Lord Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, as police investigate allegations that he shared market-sensitive government information with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a minister. The Metropolitan Police said a 72-year-old man was detained on Monday at a residence in Camden, north London, and taken to a police station for questioning. The arrest followed the execution of search warrants at properties in Camden and Wiltshire earlier this month. According to police, the probe centres on claims that Mandelson passed confidential government assessments and policy-related details to Epstein during his time in office. The investigation was launched after documents released last month by the US Department of Justice included email exchanges between the two men. Mandelson has not commented publicly on the allegations in recent weeks. However, the BBC reported that his position is that he did not act criminally and was not driven by financial gain. In one email dating back to 2009, Mandelson appeared to relay an adviser’s assessment prepared for then prime minister Gordon Brown, referring to proposed policy steps including an asset sales plan. Other correspondence suggested discussions on a tax on bankers’ bonuses and confirmation of a Eurozone bailout package a day before its official announcement in 2010. Mandelson was appointed British ambassador to the United States in February 2025 but was removed from the post in September, after Downing Street said fresh details had emerged about the extent of his association with Epstein. On Monday afternoon, Mandelson was seen being escorted from his London home by plain-clothes officers and placed into an unmarked vehicle. Sources said officers from the Met’s central specialist crime division carried out the arrest, with consultations between police and prosecutors continuing. The government has said it plans to release initial documents linked to Mandelson’s appointment in early March, although officials indicated discussions are ongoing with police over what material can be made public while the investigation continues. Political reaction was swift, with opposition figures saying the arrest raised serious questions about the prime minister’s judgment in appointing Mandelson to a senior diplomatic role.   With inputs from BBC