Peter Mandelson arrest and release is 'not a slam dunk', ex-Attorney General warns

Lord Mandelson has been released on bail by the Metropolitan Police following his arrest on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

In a statement, the force confirmed: "A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation.

"He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, February 23 and was taken to a London police station for interview. This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.

"We are not able to provide further information at this stage to prevent prejudicing the integrity of the investigation."

Offering his analysis on GB News, Sir Michael said: "The police have to think very carefully about their movements here, and they have to do that in every case, not just in the case of a prominent person where the media, the eyes of the world, are looking at them.

"We can imagine that there will be very expensive lawyers and very effective lawyers who at some point in the future may well be digging very deeply into every step that is made here, so it's only right and professional that everything is considered very carefully."

Sir Michael addressed the particular difficulties surrounding misconduct in public office charges, describing the offence as challenging to establish.

He explained: "We do know that the police will be taking this matter very seriously and no doubt, making sure that their senior officers are well aware of every step they're taking.

"A charge of misconduct in a public office, it's a difficult charge to prove. It is not a rare charge; I'm not going to say that.

"It often happens to be charged when police officers, for example, misuse the National Computer, the police computer for personal reasons, or when prison officers have improper relations with prisoners."

He added: "Those types of examples, the courts have held that Bishops, Members of Parliament, Ministers, police officers are all public officers, but not everyone is, and that has to be determined in every case.

"As does the wilfulness or otherwise of a neglect of duty or a misconduct, and whether the degree of that misconduct that is being alleged is enough.

"So there's a lot of complicated rationales here before anyone can prove a charge, if a charge is ever made."

He stressed that no charges have yet been brought and that the presumption of innocence must be emphasised particularly strongly given the substantial public attention.

Sir Michael made clear: "As we know, there's been no charges. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

"And in fact, I think we really have to emphasise that particularly strongly in a case where there's been such public interest.

"It's not a slam dunk by any manner or means here. This could go in many different directions, and it would be very unsafe to jump to any conclusions here. Caution is very, very much to be exercised."

Earlier this month, the peer resigned his Labour membership and said he has "no record or recollection" of alleged financial payments made to him by Epstein.

Mr Mandelson has previously said of his relations with Epstein: "I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes like everyone else.

"I learned the actual truth about him after his death, and he added that he had relied on assurances of his innocence," he said. "That turned out later to be horrendously false."

Lord Mandelson has not responded to previous requests for comment, but we understand that prior to his arrest, his position was he has not acted criminally and did not act for personal gain.