The European Commission has tasked the bloc’s anti-fraud agency – Olaf – to investigate Peter Mandelson’s activities while British commissioner for trade from 2004-2008. It just keeps getting worse…
The Commission told the FT: “Given the circumstances, and the significant amount of documents made available publicly, the European Commission . . . asked OLAF on 18 February to look into the matter… As new documents were published recently, we are looking into these and assessing whether there is any breach of the respective obligations.” That’s another win for Nigel Farage who wrote to Olaf this month asking for a probe into Mandelson…
The Met has supplied a formal apology to both parliamentary speakers now. Good to see everything operating at normal in the capital’s police force…
Police detectives told lawyers acting for Peter Mandelson that Lord Forsyth – the Speaker of the House of Lords – and Lindsay Hoyle dobbed him in by reporting his intentions to fly to the British Virgin Islands. Yesterday they apologised to Hoyle, today they say sorry to Forsyth…
Mandelson’s lawyers are also outraged. They will try to make hay of the bog-up…
The Labour benches didn’t like that one…
The Times reports Commons Speaker Linsday Hoyle was the source of intelligence which led Metropolitan Police officers to arrest Peter Mandelson on Monday afternoon. Mandelson was previously scheduled to do a voluntary interview in March before the rozzer swept in after judging him a flight risk…
Mandelson was briefing hacks that some conspiracy was going on with someone trying to do him in. It turns out Hoyle was told by a source on the British Virgin Islands that Mandelson planned to travel there. Hoyle told Met officers as much on Monday, who then interviewed Hoyle’s source. Mandelson says the allegation he was planning to leave is “complete fiction.” Mandelson originally blamed the Lords Speaker – Lord Forsyth – for dobbing him in. When it was the lower house what done it…
UPDATE: Hoyle tells the Commons: “I would like to confirm that I felt it was relevant to pass this on to the Met police in good faith as is my duty.”
Trade minister Chris Bryant is handling the LibDems’ opposition day Humble Address, which will release files relating to Andrew’s time as trade envoy:
“The government will of course comply with the terms of the Humble Address in full. As I say, we support the motion, but as the House will know, there is a live police investigation into the former Duke of York after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The House will also be aware that following that arrest on the 19th of February, Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of the King. His Majesty emphasised that the law must take its course and that the palace would provide its full and wholehearted support and cooperation. The statement concluded with a commitment that his majesty and the royal family would continue in their duty and service to the nation. Mr Speaker, I’m sure that is a sentiment that the whole house will support. As the police have rightly said, it is absolutely crucial that the integrity of their investigation is protected. And now these proceedings are underway. It would be wrong of me to say anything that might prejudice them. Nor will the government be able to put into the public domain anything that is required by the police for them to conduct their inquiries unless and until the police are satisfied.”
Labour preparing for a big delay on any files…
Read the full Humble Address text below:
Continue reading “WATCH: Government Supports Motion to Release Andrew Files”
David Lammy offered up a half-hearted apology for Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US Ambassador:
“As Foreign Secretary at the time of course I was subject to collective responsibility and I am sorry that that decision was made.”
Lammy has previously briefed the newspapers that he was actually against Mandelson’s appointment. Not quite taking responsibility here…
Asked about warnings of a civil war in an interview with The House, Reform MP Danny Kruger said:
“Yeah. The only chance of unity for our country is Reform. If we don’t win, or if we win and then make a mess of it, I do fear for our country.”