Police are searching Peter Mandelson’s homes in London and Wiltshire as they investigate him for misconduct in public office.
Scotland Yard has mounted a full criminal investigation into the former Labour grandee after damning revelations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
While he was a Cabinet minister, the former spin doctor repeatedly tipped off the tycoon about market-sensitive government plans, emails suggest.
Two people believed to be police officers arrived outside Lord Mandelson’s house near Regent’s Park in central London this afternoon.
One of them appeared to be wearing a small body camera. They knocked on the door and entered the house. Police are also searching a second address in Wiltshire.
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said: ‘I can confirm that officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime team are in the process of carrying out search warrants at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area.
‘The searches are related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offences, involving a 72-year-old man. He has not been arrested and enquiries are ongoing.’
The criminal investigation was announced on Tuesday after the Government and former-prime minister Gordon Brown passed information to the Met.
The offence of misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
It came as SWR uncovered further sensational details about Lord Mandelson’s dealings with Epstein, with whom he remained close even after the financier had been jailed for child sex offences.
One bombshell email seemingly showed the pair discussing confidential negotiations over a £10billionnistry of Defence contract while Lord Mandelson was business secretary in Mr Brown’s government
