A leaked document compiled by a former MI6 agent alleges that Russian intelligence services considered Peter Mandelson, a prominent figure in the UK Labour Party, a "privileged contact" in their efforts to manipulate British politics over the past three decades. The dossier, known as "Project Fish," was reportedly created by Christopher Steele, who previously authored the "Trump dossier."
The report claims that Mandelson was first contacted by the KGB, the Soviet intelligence service, shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, when he served as Labour's director of communications. According to the dossier, he subsequently became a "privileged contact for Russian intelligence" through his progression as a Labour official, a member of Tony Blair's inner circle, and a senior politician.
The document also reportedly suggests that Jeffrey Epstein, a former associate of Mandelson, may have assisted Russian spies in gathering damaging information, or "kompromat," on Western elites for decades. The dossier claims that Russian intelligence services viewed Mandelson as "one of the most significant RIS achievements in manipulating UK politics."
However, allies of Lord Mandelson have dismissed the claims, emphasizing that he has opposed the Kremlin on numerous occasions throughout his political career. The dossier does not present evidence that Mandelson spied for Russia.
The reports also indicate that Russian intelligence agencies maintained files on other prominent UK politicians, including Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, and Jeremy Corbyn. The article specifies there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by these individuals.
Questions have been raised regarding Whitehall's awareness of these allegations when Mandelson was appointed to the UK's ambassadorial post in the U.S. Documents released earlier this year reportedly showed that Mandelson's connections to Russia and China were flagged during his vetting process, but he was ultimately approved for the role. His associations with Chinese finance minister Lan Fo’an, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and former Israeli military intelligence general Tamir Hayman were noted in a nine-page summary during his vetting.
The Telegraph reported that Russia's foreign intelligence agency, the SVR, kept a file on Mandelson's relationship with Epstein. Lord Mandelson has been approached for comment.