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Government Pushes Next Mandelson Files Release to June

Parliament’s intelligence watchdog says the government is withholding files beyond the terms of MPs’ order.

Overview

  • The government confirmed on Tuesday that the second tranche of Peter Mandelson documents will be released after the Whitsun recess, which ends June 1.
  • The Intelligence and Security Committee said ministers applied redactions for reasons not allowed by the humble address and did not refer Mandelson’s vetting file to the committee.
  • Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said the publication will come with a redactions methodology and that the approach follows precedents used for past document releases.
  • Jones said raw vetting data and the names and contact details of junior officials will not be published to protect the vetting process and individual privacy.
  • MPs warned of possible next steps, including a contempt motion to force disclosure, as committees also probe how security advice was handled and why record-keeping relied on private messaging.