Peter Mandelson should hand back US ambassador payoff or give it to charity, says minister – UK politics live | Politics
Cabinet minister says Mandelson should return Foreign Office proceeds or give them to charity
Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFaddenHe spoke to Trevor Phillips on the Sky News politics programme.
McFadden was asked about the size of the payment Mandelson received from the State Department. McFadden added that he did not know how much Mandelson was entitled to and that the figure would be negotiated between “him and his employers.”
Asked whether he was morally obligated to return it or donate it to charity, he said: “I think he probably should, yes. Either of those; give it back or give it to charity.”
“Perhaps it is an incident involving violence against women and girls. Under these circumstances, I think there should be retribution for this, I don’t think the public will think much about it.”
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The Metropolitan Police are investigating Peter Mandelson over allegations of misconduct in public office. Police searched two properties linked to Mandelson as part of an investigation into allegations that Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trevor Phillips asked McFadden if he was aware that police had approached Keir Starmer during their investigation into Mandelson. “I’m not aware of that,” McFadden said. Starmer has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Minister says he feels angry and betrayed by Mandelson’s actions
McFadden is asked how he feels considering he’s known Mandelson for a long time. He says the most important thing about what he describes as a “terrible story” is that his own feelings are secondary to the feelings of “the women involved in it.”
McFadden said:
My feelings are a mixture of surprise, anger, and this feeling: This is someone I have known at the political level for 30 years.
I was his minister, his deputy minister, in the ministry of enterprise during the financial crisis. And, you know, this was a time when everyone was heading to the pumps, banks were collapsing, businesses were collapsing, people were wondering if they could keep their homes.
And the idea that, years later, he was streaming some information about this to this person in America, whom I had never heard of, is shocking.
He was asked if he felt “betrayed.” McFadden replied: “Yes I do, and it’s a strange thing in politics where you can have a close political relationship with someone, but there can be this whole other side of their life that explodes into the public sphere that you have no knowledge of and no interest in.”
As a reminder, recent revelations from the Epstein files suggest that Peter Mandelson sent emails to Jeffrey Epstein containing confidential information the government had received to deal with the global financial crisis while he was commerce secretary under Gordon Brown. You can read more in our explainer here.
Cabinet minister says Mandelson should return Foreign Office proceeds or give them to charity
Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFaddenHe spoke to Trevor Phillips on the Sky News politics programme.
McFadden was asked about the size of the payment Mandelson received from the State Department. McFadden added that he did not know how much Mandelson was entitled to and that the figure would be negotiated between “him and his employers.”
Asked whether he was morally obligated to return it or donate it to charity, he said: “I think he probably should, yes. Either of those; give it back or give it to charity.”
“Perhaps it is an incident involving violence against women and girls. Under these circumstances, I think there should be retribution for this, I don’t think the public will think much about it.”
State Department to review Mandelson’s five-figure income as US ambassador
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics as speculation continues over Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister.
Peter Mandelson He is under increasing pressure to repay the salary he received after being fired as US ambassador in September over his friendship with late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It is stated that taxpayer-funded income after being made redundant last year could be as high as £55,000 before tax and deductions. The Sunday Times reportedWith an exit payment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs equivalent to three months’ salary.
Although salary is not publicly disclosed by the government, the U.S. embassy generally ranks highest in the diplomatic service; between £155,000 and £220,000 per year.
Full details of Mandelson’s earnings will be revealed to parliament after MPs backed calls for documents relating to his time in government to be released.
Sources told the Sunday Times that Mandelson wanted much more money than he received. We have not yet been able to independently verify the contents of the Sunday Times report.
Starmer’s allies said his peer should return the taxpayer-funded aid or donate it to a victims’ charity. The State Department said an investigation had been launched “in light of additional information that has now emerged.”
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said:
Peter Mandelson’s public service was terminated in accordance with legal advice and terms and conditions of employment.
Normal public services HR processes were followed. Further information will be given to parliament as part of the government’s response to the motion passed last week and coordinated by the Cabinet Office.
