Darren Jones, Keir Starmer's right-hand man, has been embroiled in a scandal after leaked messages revealed he commiserated with Peter Mandelson on the day Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The messages, obtained by the Spectator magazine, show Jones telling Mandelson, "You've been doing such a great job, and you worked wnoders with Trump. I'm so sorry about today." Jones later admitted in the House of Commons that his relationship with Mandelson had boosted his career and apologised to victims of Epstein's abuse. The revelations threaten to derail the rising Labour star, who has positioned himself as a possible successor to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The 'I'm so sorry' message that broke the seal

According to the Spectator, the key exchange occurred on the day Mandelson was forced out as US ambassador. Jones's private WhatsApp message — sent using a disappearing-meessages feature — expressed sympathy for Mandelson's dismissal over his Epstein association. "You've been doing such a great job, and you worked wonders with Trump. I'm so sorry about today," Jones wrote. The message was among a string of leaked exchanges that were not included in the Mandelson files released to parliament earlier this week. Jones acknowledged on Wednesday that the "only other person who could release them is Mandelson," who has refused to hand over his phone to the parliamentary inquiry.

Unflattering takes on Reeves, Rayner, and Reynolds

The leaked messages go beyond commiseration. After Mandelson met with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, he relayed to Jones that the government's growth plans were in the hands of Reeves, then deputy PM Angela Rayner, and then business secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Jones replied, "It doesn't fill you with confidence," according to the Spectator. In another exchange, Jones criticised members of Reynolds's team over negotiations regarding the Port Talbot steel works, accusing some of taking positions "because that's what the unions want." The messages also reveal that Jones was eyeing Reynolds's job in an expected reshuffle, saying, "Everyone fond of Jonny but perception that DBT (Department of Business and Trade) not firing on full cylinders." These comments are likely to trigger awkward conversations with Cabinet colleagues who were directly criticised.

Disappearing messages and the unanswered leak question

The source obtained messages that Jones had assumed were automatically deleted via a disappearing-messages function on his phone — a feature also used by Starmer and Reeves, according to the Spectator. This has prompted accusations of a transparency failure. Tory frontbencher Alex Burghart told the Mail, "This makes a mockery of the government's transparency process. it seems ministers have allowed messages to be deleted only for them to then appear in public. It is farcical." The central open question remains: who leaked the messages, and why now? Jones has suggested only Mandelson could have released them, but Mandelson has not commented on the leak. The parliamentary inquiry into Mandelson's appointment may now face renewed scrutiny over missing evidence.

The survivor who forced Jones's apology

In the House of Commons, former victims minister Alex Davies-Jones read a statement from US survivor Lisa Phillips, who accused the prime minister of appointing Mandelson "when his association with Jeffrey Epstein had long been publicly known." Davies-Jones condemned the government for siding with the powerful instead of Epstein survivors. Jones was visibly moved by the intervention. He told MPs, "I think I subconsciously treated Peter Mandelson differently because I believe him to have influence and power within the Labour Party, and I think the answer to that question is yes, I did." He added, "Have I benefited from that relationship? I think in part the answer is yes, and for that I'd like to apologise to the House, to the victims, and commit to them doing something about it." The apology may not be enough to salvage his leadership ambitions, as the scandal underscores a willingness to prioritise personal ties over judgment.

A leadership ambition undercut by an Epstein-adjacent allinace

The messages threaten to do serious damage to a rising Labour star who has touted himself as a possible successor to Starmer,as the Spectator reported. Jones's admission that he subconsciously treated Mandelson favorably because of his power within the party exposes a vulnerability: his dependence on the same patronage network that elevated him. The broader context is a Labour government still haunted by its handling of the Epstein affair — Starmer's decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador drew bipartisan condemnation. For Jones, the leaked messages suggest a pattern of flattering influential figures and criticising colleagues behind their backs, traits that do not align with the transparency and integrity that voters expect. The question now is whether the Labour leadership will distance itself from Jones or stand by him as the further leaks may emerge.