'Mandelson arrested' and 'Four years of tears' in Ukraine

24 February 2026

The arrest of Lord Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office dominates Tuesday's papers. The Daily Telegraph leads a photo of the former ambassador to the US being led away from his London home by police officers. The paper calls his arrest "a fresh blow" to Sir Keir Starmer and comes after police launched an investigation earlier this month over allegations that, while serving as business secretary, he passed sensitive government information to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson has not publicly commented in recent weeks on the Epstein files, but it is understood that his position is he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: "Mandelson arrested." — The arrest of Lord Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office dominates Tuesday's papers. The Daily Telegraph leads a photo of the former ambassador to the US being led away from his London home by police officers. The paper calls his arrest "a fresh blow" to Sir Keir Starmer and comes after police launched an investigation earlier this month over allegations that, while serving as business secretary, he passed sensitive government information to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson has not publicly commented in recent weeks on the Epstein files, but it is understood that his position is he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.

The Guardian follows with the same photo as it reports that Mandelson's arrest comes days before a crucial byelection in Gorton and Denton in Manchester. The paper says it will be "an uncomfortable reminder" of what critics have said is one of the prime minister's "worst lapses of judgment" - the decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.

The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: "Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct over Epstein links." — The Guardian follows with the same photo as it reports that Mandelson's arrest comes days before a crucial byelection in Gorton and Denton in Manchester. The paper says it will be "an uncomfortable reminder" of what critics have said is one of the prime minister's "worst lapses of judgment" - the decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.

"Mandelson arrested over 'secrets passed to Epstein'" is the Times' headline. The paper adds detectives are expected to interview Mandelson late on Monday night after he was taken to a London police station.

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: "Mandelson arrested over 'secrets passed to Epstein'." — "Mandelson arrested over 'secrets passed to Epstein'" is the Times' headline. The paper adds detectives are expected to interview Mandelson late on Monday night after he was taken to a London police station.

Lord Mandelson's arrest "sparks jeopardy for Number 10" is the i Paper's take. It says the latest development "threatens to reignite furore" over the PM's appointment of Mandelson as US ambassador despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: "Mandelson arrest sparks jeopardy for Number 10." — Lord Mandelson's arrest "sparks jeopardy for Number 10" is the i Paper's take. It says the latest development "threatens to reignite furore" over the PM's appointment of Mandelson as US ambassador despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.

"Things can only get sweatier" predicts the Sun as it features Mandelson being led away alongside a picture of the paper's front page from last week of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein.

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: "Things can only get sweatier." — "Things can only get sweatier" predicts the Sun as it features Mandelson being led away alongside a picture of the paper's front page from last week of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein.

"Disgraced Lord held" echoes the Daily Mirror.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: "Disgraced Lord held." — "Disgraced Lord held" echoes the Daily Mirror.

The Daily Mail describes an "ashen-faced" Mandelson as he was taken away by detectives on Monday afternoon. "Now Mandelson faces the music" is the headline.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: "Now Mandelson faces the music." — The Daily Mail describes an "ashen-faced" Mandelson as he was taken away by detectives on Monday afternoon. "Now Mandelson faces the music" is the headline.

Alongside its lead of Mandelson's arrest, Financial Times features an interview with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Zelensky says Russia and Ukraine are at the "beginning of the end" of the conflict but urged the US to see through Vladimir Putin's negotiating "games", the paper reports.

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: "Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct over Epstein connection." — Alongside its lead of Mandelson's arrest, Financial Times features an interview with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Zelensky says Russia and Ukraine are at the "beginning of the end" of the conflict but urged the US to see through Vladimir Putin's negotiating "games", the paper reports.

"Four years of tears" is how the Metro marks the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine war.

The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: "Police come for Mandelson." — "Four years of tears" is how the Metro marks the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine war.

The Daily Express says Shamima Begum, who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State in 2015, may be planning a return to the UK despite being stripped of her British citizenship.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: "Plot to bring jihadi bride Shamima back to UK." — The Daily Express says Shamima Begum, who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State in 2015, may be planning a return to the UK despite being stripped of her British citizenship.

Finally, the Daily Star introduces baby Hugo, the first baby in the UK born using the womb of a deceased donor. Hugo's parents also pay tribute to the donor, saying: "Part of her will live on forever."

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star: "Our little miracle." — Finally, the Daily Star introduces baby Hugo, the first baby in the UK born using the womb of a deceased donor. Hugo's parents also pay tribute to the donor, saying: "Part of her will live on forever."

"Mandelson arrested" is the headline in the Daily Telegraph, over a photograph of Lord Mandelson being led away from his home by detectives. "Disgraced Lord held," says the Daily Mirror. The Daily Mail says: "Now Mandelson faces the music, days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was held on similar allegations. "After Andy, now Mandy...," observes the Sun. The Financial Times describes the situation as an "epic fall from grace", but notes that the "peer denies wrongdoing".

The i Paper says the arrest has sparked jeopardy for Number 10 as it threatens to reignite the furore over the former business secretary being appointed as the ambassador to the US. The Guardian says the arrest - just days before the Gorton and Denton by-election, will be an uncomfortable reminder of what critics say is one of Sir Keir Starmer's worst lapses of judgement in office. The Daily Express says it will pile fresh pressure on ministers - and the police - to set out a clear timetable for releasing the vetting files that resulted in the appointment.

"Four years of tears" is how Metro leads its coverage of the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Daily Telegraph says few imagined that four years on, Ukraine would still be fighting. The Guardian notes that Russia's gains are trivial and "the relentless attacks on Ukraine's civilian population have so far brought minimal strategic gain for Russia".

The Times says the EU could "stub out" the UK's proposed smoking ban. It points out that seven EU countries believe the proposal to ensure that no-one born after 2009 can legally buy cigarettes breaches the Windsor framework, designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. But the paper says the Department for Health has stressed that the policy is "fully compatible with our international treaty obligations in Northern Ireland".

"Our Little Miracle" is the headline for the Daily Star, as it reports the first birth to a woman using a womb from a deceased donor. The paper quotes Hugo's mother Grace as saying the donor will live on through him.