LORD Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office today.

The former British ambassador the United States was led out of his London home by police officers in the afternoon.

He has faced allegations that he leaked market-sensitive information from Downing Street to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview. This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”

Lord Mandelson has denied wrongdoing.

The arrest followed Australia became the first country in the Commonwealth to back plans to remove disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession.

The country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote to Sir Keir Starmer saying he would back “any proposal” to do so as Australians take the “grave allegations” about Andrew’s links to Epstein “seriously.”

The former prince was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing sensitive information with the convicted paedophile while serving as Britain’s trade envoy.

Andrew spent 11 hours in custody on his 66th birthday while officers searched his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk before he was released under investigation.

He remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles over his ties to Epstein in October.

The government is considering introducing legislation to remove him from the line of succession, which would require an act of Parliament supported by the 14 Commonwealth countries where King Charles III, his brother, is head of state, including Australia.

Mr Albanese’s letter to his British counterpart came as former civil servants claimed the King’s brother used taxpayers’ money for massages and excessive travel costs during his time as Britain’s trade envoy.

The Department for Business and Trade did not challenge the claims about Andrew’s time as envoy, between 2001 and 2011.
The former prince has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

A spokesman for Sir Keir confirmed the letter had been received and said the government was “considering whether further steps are required.”