Peter Mandelson utilized a tracking service to send Cabinet ministers links during a discreet Labour campaign, as revealed in newly disclosed humble address documents. The documents also unveiled Mandelson’s involvement in the Labour Party’s efforts to secure victory in the Oxford University Chancellor election through the distribution of trackable URLs generated by Grabify, a service that records user information before redirection.
Notable government figures, including Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, pensions minister Torsten Bell, Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves, and Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty, received the tracking links. The documents, comprising extensive WhatsApp exchanges, emails, and official correspondence, were released following a House of Commons Humble Address regarding Mandelson’s ambassadorial role transition in Washington. They depicted Mandelson’s coordination of a voter mobilization initiative in 2024.
At that time, Mandelson, still serving as the chairman of Global Counsel, encouraged ministers to register to vote, engage other Oxford alumni, and disseminate campaign messages within alumni networks. He urged recipients to forward registration links to potential supporters and emphasized the opportunity for a Labour figure to secure victory in the election.
The documents highlighted a significant detail regarding the replacement of the original Oxford University registration link with a trackable Grabify link, indicated by the identifier “OPKKPP.” Mandelson initially shared the official registration page but later substituted it with a trackable alternative that led to the same registration form.
The Grabify links, resembling the official registration process, were distributed to recipients with the title “Register your interest to vote in the Election of the Chancellor.” Despite the links ultimately redirecting to the university’s registration page, Grabify’s tracking capabilities raised cybersecurity concerns, according to Kevin Walker of Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions.
The situation underscored the importance of caution when clicking links, especially those that may conceal tracking features. The disclosed documents did not specify the collected data’s usage or if additional tracking functionalities were activated, raising questions about the substitution of the official university link with a trackable alternative.
Furthermore, the documents shed light on the tactics employed in Mandelson’s campaign, emphasizing the reliance on ministers and Labour networks to garner support for Labour’s bid in the Oxford Chancellor election. The revelations came to light as part of the Government’s response to the House of Commons Humble Address regarding Lord Mandelson’s diplomatic appointments and departures.