MP Daisy Cooper has called on the UK’s financial regulator, FCA, to investigate Peter Mandelson, who allegedly leaked confidential government information to financier Jeffrey Epstein. The leak may have led to insider trading and resulted in significant profits for Mandelson or those he shared the information with.
In a letter to the FCA, Cooper said that sharing confidential information with a private financier could provide an unfair advantage in financial markets. She urged the regulator to launch an immediate investigation into whether Mandelson’s actions constitute a criminal offence under insider trading laws.
The alleged leak occurred when Mandelson was Business Secretary under Gordon Brown. Emails appear to show that Mandelson gave Epstein advance warning of market-moving events, including information on sensitive fiscal and political developments. This may have affected the price of stocks and currencies, including the British pound.
Cooper pointed out that insider dealing is a serious criminal offence with penalties ranging from 10 years in jail for the most severe cases. The Metropolitan police have already launched a criminal investigation into Mandelson over allegations he leaked market-sensitive emails to Epstein.
The FCA has refused to comment further on the matter, while Mandelson was approached for comment but did not respond.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/07/lib-dems-urge-fca-investigate-peter-mandelson-potential-insider-trading