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  "path": "/2026/06/01/biggest-revelations-mandelson-files-trump-red-box-no-regrets-note-28604620/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-01T13:56:53.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "Peter Mandelson",
    "government",
    "US",
    "WhatsApp",
    "phone",
    "David Lammy",
    "Foreign Office",
    "Sir Olly Robbins",
    "check our news page",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "Journalists are pouring through the Mandelson files (Picture: AP)\n\nPeter Mandelson said the government would ‘never regret’ appointing him and denied he had ‘close contacts’ with foreign nationals, the newly released Mandelson files show.\n\nThe government has released more than a thousands documents relating to the scandal-hit appointment of Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador.\n\nThe files reveal that the ‘Prince of Darkness’ refused to give his WhatsApp messages and other information from his personal phone as part of the publication process.\n\nThe Labour big beast also schmoozed the then Foreign Secretary David Lammy to persuade him to give him the Washington job.\n\nMandelson tried to schmooze David Lammy into appoint him (Picture: Cabinet Office/PA Wire)\n\nHe told Lammy: ‘I just wanted you to know that if you were minded to appoint me I would make sure you never regret it’.\n\nLord Mandelson continued that it would be a ‘huge honour’ to serve, adding: ‘If you are up for it, so am I’.\n\nIt emerged in April that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommended against granting Lord Mandelson security clearance.\n\nThe Prime Minister was unaware when top Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins overruled that advice.\n\nThe Guardian has reported that his ties with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the vetting agency.\n\nThe newly released files show that Lord Mandelson admitted he had a ‘large number of personal acquaintances with foreign nationals’ during the security vetting process, but denied any of them were ‘close contacts’.\n\nWhen the future US Ambassador was asked by a case assistant to fill in a foreign contacts form, he wrote: ‘. I have a large number of personal\nacquaintances with foreign nationals but I would not describe these as current friendships or personal business connections.’\n\nThe case worker continued to ask Mandelson to fill in the form, writing: ‘It is prudent that we obtain sufficient information about overseas contacts that we can be confident that any potential security risks are identified.’\n\nMandelson exchanged WhatsApps with scores of senior politicians (Picture: EPA)\n\nMandelson also exchanged a string of WhatsApp messages with Labour cabinet members.\n\nDouglas Alexander, Scotland Secretary who was then serving in the Department for Business and Trade, wrote to Lord Mandelson after his election to Parliament: ‘You probably don’t realise quite how influential you’ve been in this whole improbable journey’.\n\nHe added: ‘I would value your counsel on Trade’.\n\nLord Mandelson also write to former transport secretary Louise Haigh support her after she resigned from government over a historic fraud offence.\n\nIn a message to her on November 29, 2024 he said: ‘Lou, I am very sorry about this. You have been brave and loyal in your decision but it seems harsh given you were appointed in full knowledge.\n\n‘But you have acted in a way that enables you to come back later and everything you say and do now should be done with that in mind. Strong and honourable.’\n\nAnother eye-catching revelation in the files is suggestions form officials that the UK gift Donald Trump a mocked-up ministerial ‘red box’ with ‘President of the United States’ inscribed upon it.\n\nLord Mandelson has repeatedly let it be known that he believes he has not acted criminally, did not act for personal gain and is co-operating with the police.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Biggest revelations from Mandelson files –  Trump ‘red box’ to ‘no regrets’ note"
}