SIR Keir Starmer’s top Downing Street aide commiserated with Peter Mandelson on the day the disgraced envoy was fired from his Washington post, further messages have revealed.

Chief Secretary Darren Jones told the New Labour grandee he was “so sorry” on the day he was dismissed, after the extent of his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was exposed. Mr Jones also praised Mr Mandelson’s work in Washington.

No messages from Mr Jones were included in the official release earlier this week as he had retained none of his WhatsApp communications with Mr Mandelson.

He was also revealed to have exchanged disparaging views about Cabinet colleagues with the then US ambassador, most notably current Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds.

Mr Jones was forced to concede to MPs that he had benefited from Mr Mandelson’s patronage.

“Did I at best subconsciously treat Peter Mandelson differently because I believed him to have influence and power within the Labour Party? I think the answer to that question is yes,” he said. 

“Have I benefited from that relationship? I think in part the answer is yes. For that I would like to apologise.”

The leak has raised speculation that more communications not released by the government — said to have been automatically deleted — may yet emerge to Sir Keir’s further embarrassment.