Mandelson’s lawyers insist he was arrested over ‘baseless’ claim he planned to leave UK

Plus: MP suggests Epstein helped Andrew get trade envoy job

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 Good morning and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent.   Peter Mandelson's lawyers have insisted he was arrested over a "baseless" claim, MPs have suggested Jeffrey Epstein may have influenced Andrew's appointment as UK trade envoy, and experts have warned Reform UK's pension plan risks backfiring and pushing up council tax bills. Top stories 1 | Mandelson's lawyers say police arrest was over 'baseless' claim he planned to leave UK Read more 2 | MP suggests Epstein may have influenced Andrew's appointment as trade envoy Read more 3 | Reform's pension plan could backfire and lead to higher council tax bills, experts warn Read more 4 | Care failings before man's death at immigration detention centre, inquest hears Read more 5 | Russell Brand pleads not guilty to further sex offence charges including rape Read more Editors' picks The church treats gay people as second-class citizens – how? The Heat: ITV's Love Island for chefs is food TV's strangest idea yet Even in Ukraine's ghost towns there are people who will not leave Your Views Your Views Readers share the reality of post-Brexit travel at EU borders I have entered and left a number of EU countries and have had four fingerprints and a face photo taken every single time. Yet every time I return I'm still doing both fingers and face. I thought once registered the idea was to speed through with only one biometric? Annemarie   Annemarie     Share your opinion and read the full debate here. WATCH  Ten-metre-wide 'fountain of filth' appears on London's South Bank STAT OF THE DAY £14m The amount Reddit has been fined over claims it failed to properly protect the personal information of the young people on its platform. Read more QUOTE OF THE DAY "I think we are suffering from having a totally unregulated sexual economy." Reform MP Danny Kruger said as he announced that the party wants to reset Britain's sexual culture as he attacked the levels of divorce in the UK. Read more Other stories you might like Tourist describes horror as violence erupts in Mexico after drug lord El Mencho killed Is performative Bible reading the latest trend or are Gen Z really turning to Christianity? Antiques dealer spots stolen Napoleon III crypt plaques on 30-year-old episode of Lovejoy Get 60% off this Oral-B electric toothbrush bundle at Amazon. Walk away with great savings in the Myrqvist sale. Join the conversation and follow us Download our apps: Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Evening Headlines newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy policy and cookie policy