House of Commons Speaker Lindsay H. Hoyle, right, confirmed in a brief statement to the United Kingdom Parliament last month that he was the one who leaked the information about Peter B. Mandelson. Photo: GIS/davidickie.com

Governor Daniel Pruce, right, and Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger, left, both UK nationals, are tight-lipped over the matter of Peter B. Mandelson. Photo: GIS/HOM Governor's Office/Facebook.

It was reported that Mr Mandeson, a former Labour politician and member of the UK Parliament from 1992-2004, who was arrested in late February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, was planning to flee to the VI before his arrest. It is unclear who his contact persons were in the British Overseas Territory and where he was planning to live.

Speaker Hoyle provided Intel to police

In a twist to the story, it’s also reported that Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay H. Hoyle, who visited the Virgin Islands over a week ago on official business, was the source of the leak to the UK Police.

It is unclear where he got the information from. The UK Metropolitan Police apologised last week to Commons Speaker Hoyle for “inadvertently revealing” or outing his name as the source of the information.

Speaker Hoyle confirmed in a brief statement to Parliament last month that he was the one who leaked the information and cautioned Members of Parliament not to speak about this matter anymore, as there is “a live investigation”.

Now the search is on to find out who in the VI knew what and when about the possibility of Mr Mandeson fleeing to the VI and who may have given the information to the UK Speaker, who has many high-level friends in the Territory.

Governor Daniel Pruce and Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger, both UK nationals, are tight-lipped over the matter.