Overview
- The Metropolitan Police said they are reviewing reports linked to the newly released Epstein files to assess whether they meet the criminal threshold for investigation.
- Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer believes Lord Peter Mandelson should leave the House of Lords and has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald to conduct an urgent review.
- A health minister said stripping a peerage would require primary legislation and cross-party agreement, calling Mandelson’s continued membership of the Lords “shameful.”
- Mandelson has resigned his Labour Party membership and described the messages as a handful of historical emails he regrets sending.
- EU commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said Brussels is ready to engage on closer ties including a possible customs union and participation in the EU defence fund, while indicating most food checks could be removed after talks with Chancellor Rachel Reeves; UK–EU ‘Brexit reset’ meetings are planned on a fortnightly basis.