Spectator Reveals Darren Jones Messages Missing From 1,500 Mandelson Pages
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
Spectator Reveals Darren Jones Messages Missing From 1,500 Mandelson Pages
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
Summary
The Spectator published WhatsApp exchanges missing from the 1,500 pages released Monday, showing Darren Jones praising Peter Mandelson after his sacking and seeking advice on promotion during last year's Cabinet reshuffle.
The messages also captured Jones and Mandelson disparaging colleagues: Mandelson said growth plans were in Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Jonathan Reynolds's hands, and Jones replied, "It doesn't fill you with confidence."
Jones separately told MPs the missing material was not withheld selectively but lost because he had disappearing messages turned on and no longer had access to the chats.
In Wednesday's Commons debate, Jones apologized for giving Mandelson too much leeway and said he had in part benefited politically from the relationship, including in the period before Mandelson was removed as UK ambassador to the US over Epstein links.