Police complete searches at Mandelson properties in Wiltshire and Camden
Met Police say misconduct in public office investigation will “take some time” as Gordon Brown criticises Starmer’s response
Former prime minister Gordon Brown said the situation facing Sir Keir Starmer was "serious" and suggested the Labour leader had been "too slow to do the right things" to clean up politics in the wake of the Peter Mandelson row.
But Mr Brown backed Sir Keir as a "man of integrity" who had been "betrayed" by Lord Mandelson.
The Metropolitan Police said its investigation into Lord Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office would "take some time" after officers finished searching his homes in London and Wiltshire.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said:
"I can confirm that officers from the Met's central specialist crime team have carried out searches at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area.
"The searches were related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offences, involving a 72-year-old man.
"He has not been arrested and inquiries are ongoing.
"This will be a complex investigation requiring a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis.
"It will take some time to do this work comprehensively and we will not be providing a running commentary."
Scotland Yard launched its investigation following allegations that Lord Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier while he was business secretary in Mr Brown's government during the financial crisis.
Mr Brown said he regretted giving Lord Mandelson his peerage and bringing him back into the government in 2008, adding that he felt "shocked, sad, angry betrayed, let down" when he saw the Epstein messages released by the US Department of Justice.
Sir Keir's position is in jeopardy because of his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US despite knowing his friendship with disgraced financier Epstein continued after his conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.