Ministers told to not publish their own Mandelson messages

The UK government has instructed ministers to refrain from publicly sharing their private communications with Lord Mandelson, a former cabinet minister and key figure in the Labour party. The warning comes in the wake of Wes Streeting, a Labour MP, publishing his WhatsApp exchanges with the former US ambassador. This move has been viewed as a potential breach of trust and a departure from the convention of keeping such communications private. The government's intervention is aimed at maintaining the confidentiality of discussions between ministers and Lord Mandelson, who is known to have significant political influence. The decision reflects the concern that the publication of such exchanges could set a precedent and undermine the trust and discretion expected in high-level political communications. The article highlights the ongoing tensions between the need for transparency in government and the desire to protect the privacy and confidentiality of sensitive political deliberations. The government's directive to ministers serves as a reminder of the delicate balance in navigating these issues.