'Bereft and beleaguered' - Mandelson messages reveal criticism of No 10

Long-awaited documents published by the government have revealed messages between Lord Mandelson and ministers strongly criticising the prime minister, No 10 and Labour MPs.

The 1,500 pages cover communications about the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US - a role he was later sacked from due to his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In one message, Lord Mandelson describes No 10 as "beleaguered and bereft" and in need of a "complete revamp".

In another exchange, minister Pat McFadden appears to complain about Labour backbenchers saying: "Every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others'. They're asking the wrong questions."

At the time, McFadden was a Cabinet Office minister, however he has since become the work and pensions secretary.

A spokesperson for McFadden said: "Pat has said publicly many times that the question we should ask is not what are you entitled to, but how can we change your life?

"That has been his whole approach as work and pensions secretary, focusing on how we best spread work and opportunities to young people in particular, rather than writing them off as the previous government did."

Responding to the documents, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Pat McFadden has said in private what he and the prime minister deny in public.

"As I've said repeatedly, Labour MPs don't understand where money comes from. They think our taxes are their money to spend, rather than the result of the hard work of the people in our country who deserve so much better."

In late June 2025, Lord Mandelson and McFadden exchanged messages about the government's welfare bill, which aimed to cut £5bn from the benefits bill by 2030.

A major rebellion by Labour MPs forced the government to massively water down its proposals.

In the build-up to the vote on the bill, McFadden says MPs were "not moving".

Lord Mandelson replies that the government could lose the vote adding: "I am not sure that Keir survives that."

McFadden says: "He is meeting the ringleaders today. I think it's very bad. Defeat, pull bill or gut it all destroy his authority" adding in a follow-up message "Keir's authority."

"Yes, I am afraid so," says Lord Mandelson.

A few weeks later the two men appear to discuss Morgan McSweeney, who was the prime minister's chief of staff at the time.