Wes Streeting has accused Peter Mandelson of a “terrible betrayal” to his country and to Labour values in a scathing takedown of the ex-Lord.

Speaking to GB News, the Health Secretary accused Mandelson of “outrageous” behaviour regarding his relations with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

On Tuesday, Mandelson announced he would be retiring from the House of Lords following confirmation of a police investigation over alleged Government leaks in emails to Epstein.

Asked by host Eamonn Holmes whether he “regrets being associated with Peter Mandelson”, Mr Streeting responded: “Yes. What we’ve seen in the last few days with the release of the latest tranche of Epstein files is a terrible betrayal.

“It is a betrayal of two Prime Ministers who were badly let down by Peter Mandelson, it’s a terrible betrayal of our country and its national interest with the leaking of highly sensitive, in some cases market sensitive information to outsiders, but fundamentally it’s a betrayal of our values as well.”

He made clear: “Public service is meant to be precisely that, public service, not self-service.

“And what lots of us have struggled with for some time since the previous release of Epstein documents, is how, given Epstein’s conviction, he continued to be associated with someone who was a convicted paedophile. I don’t think it gets more serious than that.”

Stressing there must remain a focus on the victims of Epstein’s crimes, the Health Secretary explained: “Quite rightly there is now a focus on his conduct as a Government minister and what he was sharing with whom, when and with what consequences.

“But in all of this, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the biggest victims in all of this, and the people who have the right to be most angry are Epstein’s victims, those women and girls who were not believed by people in positions of power and authority, who badly let them down.

“And so we all feel this deep anger at his conduct and how badly he has let all of us down and let the country down.”

Suggesting there was information “withheld” by Mandelson in his vetting process, Mr Streeting told the People’s Channel: “When Peter Mandelson was appointed as the US ambassador, there was a vetting process, and he was asked questions about the Epstein relationship.

“And I do not believe for a second that in that process he could have shared all of the information that since come to light, because if he had have done, he would never been appointed.”

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He argued: “And how do I know that for certain? Because the moment details began to emerge, his feet didn’t touch the ground because the Prime Minister had him phoned in the middle of the night and was recalled to London and sacked as our ambassador.

“So be in no doubt about how seriously the Prime Minister has taken this and how badly let down he feels.”

Predicting fury from former prime minister Gordon Brown, he added: “Just as I’m in no doubt, given what he said publicly and the action he’s urged, that Gordon Brown is also furious.

“Because at a time when Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling were working around the clock to get this country and get the world through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, a member of their own team was forwarding internal discussions, extremely sensitive information, market-sensitive information, to Jeffrey Epstein.”

Demanding Mr Mandelson must be “held to account”, Mr Streeting made clear: “In terms of conduct of Government ministers, it doesn’t get more serious than that.

“And I’m obviously not going to comment on a live police investigation, but what I will say as a serving cabinet minister is I don’t need a copy of the ministerial code in front of me, and I don’t need a copy of the law of the land in front of me to know that what Peter Mandelson did was outrageous in terms of his conduct and judgement.

“And that is why he absolutely must be held to account and face all of the penalties necessary for this type of action.”

A Downing Street spokesman said in a statement: “It is right that Peter Mandelson will no longer be a member of the House of Lords. As the Prime Minister said this morning, Peter Mandelson let his country down.”

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