It is the scandal that for the Prime Minister just keeps on getting worse.

The revelations about what contact Peter Mandelson had with Geoffrey Epstein,

what the government knew, when, and what it did or is now doing about it,

is the story that is dominating Westminster.

I'm Hannah White, and this is Inside Briefing, the podcast from the Institute for Government.

The emails between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the still Lord Mandelson

have sent shockwaves through government and beyond, with the scandal spiraling this week.

The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into

allegations of Mandelson's misconduct in public office, and the government has been forced into

agreeing to release details of the vetting process undertaken when Kirstama appointed Mandelson

to the role of Ambassador to the US in 2025. But while this story centres on one former

minister and former ambassador, it raises serious questions.

First and foremost about Stama's judgment and the advice he received, about appointing

Mandelson as ambassador, about the vetting process, about a former minister apparently so

willing and able to pass on sensitive government information to a friend with

financial interests in it and about the wider appointment system in the UK, and in particular

the ability to eject unfit members from the Lords, from which Peter Mandelson is on a

voluntary leave of absence. We're going to examine all the consequences of these events and what

the implications might be

for Stama's government. Joining me today is Alex Thomas, the Institute's executive director of

impact and influence. Hi Alex. Hi, Hannah. And we are delighted to be joined by Jim Picard,

deputy political editor at the Financial Times, who's led the reporting on this story from the FD's

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