The last few weeks have been turbulent for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and there is little sign that the political storm is about to ease. During Tuesday's (February 24) edition of GB News, the programme was interrupted by presenters Ellie Costello and Alex Armstrong to announce that Lord Peter Mandelson has been released on bail.

The former Labour cabinet minister was released on police bail following questioning over alleged misconduct in public office. Sharing further details on the update was GB News' Home and Security Editor Mark White, who highlighted Starmer's decision to appoint Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US, despite knowing he continued a friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

White began: "Peter Mandelson had been connected to Jeffrey Epstein, even before his appointment as the British ambassador to the US. A high-risk move that the prime minister decided he was going to enact, despite some who suggested that perhaps it was a move too far."

He continued: "The release of the Epstein files showed us that he had continued a very close relationship with Epstein, even after he had been jailed and then released on paedophile charges in the US. It was after that that the prime minister sacked Peter Mandelson from his role as British ambassador.

"Millions of additional files from the Department of Justice that contained communications between Mandelson and Epstein appeared to show the passing of sensitive information that would potentially be damaging to the UK and to the UK's partners if it was to get out ahead of time."

White explained that this occurred when Mandelson was the business secretary between 2008 and 2010, when there were "tumultuous goings on" within government.

He added: "It was a very concerning time with the meltdown of the global banking system and the government scrambling to do what they could to prop up the banking sector in this country and elsewhere."

Despite reaching out to Mandelson "several times", White revealed the 72-year-old has not responded to any of GB News' requests for comment.

"Previously he has denied any wrongdoing," he went on. The investigation has now moved on, however, with searches carried out in Mandelson's homes in Camden and Wiltshire earlier this month.

Plainclothes Metropolitan Police officers led Lord Mandelson from his Camden home at approximately 4.30pm on Monday (February 23).

"He was kept in there for quite some time," White said, admitting they were convinced he would be held in custody overnight to potentially undergo more questioning today.

However, he walked out of Wandsworth custody suite nine hours later, getting back to his residence around 2am Tuesday.

White added: "The Metropolitan Police is not going to make any further comment at this stage. No charges at this stage. We are still in the interview stage of the police investigation, but dramatic nonetheless."