This video can not be played
Watch: Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle says he passed information onto police
The Metropolitan Police has apologised to the Commons Speaker for "inadvertently revealing" he was the source of information relating to Lord Mandelson's arrest on Monday.
It comes after Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed he had passed on information to the force suggesting the peer could be a flight risk.
Lord Mandelson's lawyers have complained about the Met's decision to detain him as part of its probe into misconduct in public office allegations.
They say he had agreed to an interview next month, and the decision to take him into custody was prompted by a "baseless" suggestion he was planning to "take up permanent residence abroad".
Mandelson's lawyers say he was arrested over 'baseless' claim he was a flight risk
The BBC understands that Lord Mandelson's lawyers were twice told by the police that information about his alleged travel plans had been passed on by Lord Forsyth, the Speaker of the House of Lords.
On Tuesday evening, Lord Forsyth denied any involvement after he was initially reported as the source of the referral, calling the suggestion "entirely false and without foundation".
On Wednesday, The Times then reported the information had in fact been shared by Sir Lindsay. Shortly afterwards, the Commons Speaker made a statement to MPs confirming he had given "relevant" information to the force.
He told MPs he had done this "in good faith", considering it to be his "duty and responsibility".
"It is regrettable this rapidly ended in the media," he added.
He did not provide any details, but the BBC understands Sir Lindsay passed on information he received in the British Virgin Islands during a visit last week that Lord Mandelson was planning to travel there.
Senior officers from the Met met Sir Lindsay on Wednesday to explain the situation, which is regarded by the force as a serious breach of protocol.
A spokesperson for the force said: "The Met has apologised to the Speaker of the House of Commons this afternoon for inadvertently revealing information during an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office."
The BBC understands the Speaker of the House of Lords has not yet received an apology from the Metropolitan Police.
Lords sources said Lord Forsyth had arranged an urgent meeting with the Metropolitan Police on Thursday and was expected to receive clarification about how his name came to be mentioned.
The sources said he wanted to know why, when the media was widely reporting erroneous information attributed to him, he was not contacted about the issue and the record was not corrected.
Lord Mandelson's lawyers Mishcon de Reya have written to the Met asking what information and evidence they based their decision to arrest their client on.
The force is understood to have conducted its own assessment of the credibility of the information passed on by Sir Lindsay before deciding to arrest Lord Mandelson on Monday afternoon.
The former Labour minister was taken to Wandsworth police station in London for interview, before later being released on bail pending further investigation. It is understood he surrendered his passport as one of his bail conditions.
Lord Mandelson pictured outside his home after police launched their investigation earlier this month
It comes after the force launched an investigation earlier this month over allegations that, while he was serving as a minister, Lord Mandelson had passed on market-sensitive government information to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The BBC understands that Lord Mandelson's position is he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain. Lawyers for the peer say he intends to co-operate with police to "clear his name".
Lord Mandelson became the British ambassador to the US in February 2025 but was sacked in September after Downing Street said new information about the depth of his relationship with Epstein had emerged.
The allegations against Lord Mandelson surfaced after the US Department of Justice released a tranche of documents last month, including emails between him and Epstein.
Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Trump says Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead after US-Israeli strikes
What we know so far: Supreme Leader's compound hit and Iran's retaliatory strikes
Luxury Dubai hotel hit as Iran launches retaliatory strikes across region
Polanski and Farage don't agree. But they have more in common than you might think
Six things to look out for in tonight's Brit Awards ceremony
First full Moon of spring set to rise in UK skies this week
Inside the £3.25m castle bought by Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr
Resident Evil Requiem's director on redefining the survival horror genre
'It feels like my brain is trying to be the class clown' – the reality of Tourette's
Formula 1's new golden age of celebrity may have just begun
Captured off guard: The art of the snatched backseat car photo
US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony's Zurcher's newsletter
Celebrating 200 years of the modern railway
Relive the highlights from the last week of Piano Room performances
Award-winning short thriller set on a farm
The beginning of a new space race, 50 years on
Luxury Dubai hotel hit as Iran launches retaliatory strikes across region
Iran retaliation raises questions about US air defences
Man, 49, dies taking part in skydive at airfield
What we know so far: Supreme Leader's compound hit and Iran's retaliatory strikes
Brits red carpet in pictures: Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Lola Young arrive
Starmer speaks to Trump after UK joins defensive operation in Middle East
US and Israeli strikes on Iran in maps
Minister Josh Simons resigns after Labour Together claims
Flights cancelled as travel warnings issued after strikes on Iran
Bowen: A dangerous moment, but US and Israel see opportunity not to be missed
Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

source