Peter Mandelson complains to journalists about news coverage of his arrest

Lord Peter Mandelson has been messaging journalists to complain about news coverage of his arrest on Monday.

The former Labour spin doctor was also said to have been texting friends in the early hours of Tuesday, criticising the police for arresting him.

The 72-year-old was held by police for nine hours of questioning following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Mandelson made an unusual statement on Tuesday in which they claimed his arrest was prompted by a “baseless suggestion” that he was “planning to leave the country”.

Two plain clothed police officers entered Mandelson’s North London home at 4.15pm on Monday. It was more than half an hour before the two officers emerged wearing body cameras to escort Mandelson into an unmarked police car.

A spokesman for the law firm Mischon de Reya, on behalf of Mandelson, said: “Peter Mandelson was arrested yesterday despite an agreement with the police that he would attend an interview next month on a voluntary basis.

“The arrest was prompted by a baseless suggestion that he was planning to leave the country and take up permanent residence abroad.

“There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any such suggestion. We have asked the MPS for the evidence relied upon to justify the arrest.

“Peter Mandelson’s overriding priority is to cooperate with the police investigation, as he has done throughout this process, and to clear his name.”