Government fully committed to releasing Mandelson files

THE Government has reiterated its commitment to comply with an order to release the Mandelson files, amid reports his links with Russia, China and Israel were raised before his appointment.

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UK Security Vetting (UKSV) flagged Lord Peter Mandelson’s association with three senior overseas figures before he took the role of US ambassador, according to The Guardian.

His connections to Chinese finance minister Lan Fo’an, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and former Israeli military intelligence general Tamir Hayman were raised by the vetting agency in a nine-page summary, a source told the newspaper. Concerns were also raised over Lord Mandelson receiving a loan of £1 million to invest in an Israeli start-up and a potentially compromising relationship with a British individual, The Guardian said.