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…
The government has said it will not ask the French to remove Peter Mandelson’s Legion of Honour. He got the award in 2017 for “devoting his entire career to serving the UK and EU”…
The Legion d’honneur was created by Napoleon Bonaparte and is granted for gallantry in military action or 20 years of distinguished military or civilian service in peace. Mandelson got it at a glitzy event in London…
Asked by Tory Mike Wood if the FCDO would make representations to the French for the removal of the award, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said:
“That is a matter for the French authorities, as was the original decision to make the award.”
Presumably the police found it in the man drawer during one of their searches…
Peter Mandelson left Wandsworth police station at around 1:10 a.m. before arriving home at 2:00 a.m. He was arrested at 5:00 p.m. so that is eight hours with officers…
The Met said:
“A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation.
He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and was taken to a London police station for interview.
This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.
We are not able to provide further information at this stage to prevent prejudicing the integrity of the investigation.”
Today’s Cabinet meeting should be fun…
Arrested this afternoon on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The Metropolitan Police released the following statement:
“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview.
“This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
Developing…
City AM reports that Global Counsel, the embattled lobbying firm founded by Peter Mandelson, will go into administration as soon as tomorrow. Its CEO Ben Wegg-Prosser – close friend of Mandelson – stood down two weeks ago. Global Cancelled…
New polling from More in Common shows a tiny proportion of Brits think the media spent too much time covering the Mandelson scandal and its consequences for Labour & Starmer. Alastair Campbell and Tom Baldwin-style sycophants will be aghast…
2,108 adults were interviewed from 13 to 17 February. 25% of Brits say the media has spent too long reporting on the Mandelson scandal. 50% say it has spent the right amount of time, 15% too little. Only 13% say that the press has been too harsh towards Starmer versus 35% who say it has been too lenient…
Among Labour 2024 voters 26% say the press has been too harsh, 51% say they’ve been right, 19% say too lenient. Bleeding right-wing press…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”