LONDON

The British government has referred material to the police after an initial review of former minister Peter Mandelson's emails to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a statement Tuesday.

"An initial review of the documents released in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice … found that they contain likely market sensitive information surrounding the 2008 financial crash and official activities thereafter to stabilise the economy," Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Office said in the statement.

It came after the Metropolitan Police announced Monday that it would review reports of alleged misconduct in public office after the latest release of files by the US Justice Department on Epstein suggested Mandelson leaked government information to the late financier.

"Only people operating in an official capacity had access to this information and (there were) strict handling conditions to ensure it was not available to anyone who could potentially benefit from it financially," said the statement.

"It appears these safeguards were compromised. In light of this information the Cabinet Office has referred this material to the police."

Emails released Friday in the US revealed Mandelson forwarded internal government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.

Mandelson's ties 'betrayal'

Starmer also called the allegations "disgraceful," with his office saying officials are drafting legislation that would allow Mandelson's peerage to be removed "as quickly as possible."

Separately, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC on Tuesday that Mandelson's ties to Epstein are a "betrayal" of the victims.

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party is reportedly planning to force a vote Wednesday in the House of Commons on the government publishing more information related to Mandelson

Starmer said Monday that Mandelson should not remain a member of the House of Lords due to his links to Epstein.

The latest release of files prompted Mandelson to resign Sunday from the Labour Party.

"I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furor surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this," Mandelson said in a letter Monday.

The US Justice Department recently released more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by US President Donald Trump in November.

The materials include photographs, grand jury transcripts and investigative records, though many pages remain heavily redacted.

Epstein was found dead by suicide in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.