Labour and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been hit with another bombshell over claims Cabinet ministers attempted to conceal their messages with Lord Mandelson from Parliament. It is claimed Government officials dealing with the Mandelson files had to ask ministers to hand over their messages more than once following what has been described in reports as initial reluctance.

MPs had demanded the release of documents relating to the former Labour minister’s appointment as US ambassador using a parliamentary motion known as a humble address. Thousands of files have been released so far, with the second tranche due next week. This is expected to include Lord Mandelson’s communications with ministers and other government officials while he was US ambassador.

The Telegraph reports that the Cabinet Office was forced to ask twice for the messages, because some ministers initally declined to send a full transcript of their conversations.

The newspaper, citing two sources familiar with the process, said officials to begin with had asked for communications between ministers and Lord Mandelson about their ministerial work, not personal messages.

The paper understands some ministers claimed all their correspondence with Lord Mandelson were not exactly related to their minestrial role and were therefore exempt.

Civil servants were apparently shocked after receiving no responses from some ministers.

Officials then reportedly sent a second email asking for all communications which included personal discussions.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “Ministers and former ministers have replied to requests made under the humble address process.”

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