Foreign Office to review Mandelson’s reported five-figure US ambassador payoff
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics as speculation over Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister continues.
Peter Mandelson is under increasing pressure to return the payoff he received after being sacked as ambassador to the US in September over his friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The taxpayer-funded payoff he received after being dismissed last year could be as high as £55,000 before tax and deductions, the Sunday Times reported, with the exit payment equivalent to three months’ salary from the Foreign Office.
Although the salary has not been publicly listed by the government, the US ambassador post usually ranks at the highest end in the diplomatic service – between £155,000 and £220,000 per year.
Full details about Mandelson’s payoff will be revealed to parliament after MPs backed a call for disclosure of papers relating to his time in the government.
Sources told the Sunday Times that Mandelson had asked for a much more money than he ended up receiving. We have not been able to independently verify the contents oft the Sunday Times’ report yet.
Allies of Starmer said the peer should give the taxpayer-funded handout back or donate it to a victims’ charity. The Foreign Office said a review had been launched “in light of further information that has now been revealed”.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said:
Peter Mandelson’s civil service employment was terminated in accordance with legal advice and the terms and conditions of his employment.
Normal civil services HR processes were followed. Further information will be provided to parliament as part of the government response to the motion passed last week which is being coordinated by the Cabinet Office.
Key events
Mandelson should hand back Foreign Office payoff or give it to charity, cabinet minister says
The work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, has spoken to Trevor Phillips on his Sky News politics programme.
McFadden was asked about the size of Mandelson’s payout from the Foreign Office. McFadden said he did not know how much Mandelson was entitled to, adding that figure would be negotiated between “him and his employers”.
Asked if he should give it back or donate it to charity on a moral basis, the minister said: “I think he probably should, yes. Either of those – either give it back or give it to a charity.
“Perhaps one involving violence against women and girls. I think taking a payoff in these circumstances, I don’t think the public will think much of that.”
Foreign Office to review Mandelson’s reported five-figure US ambassador payoff
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics as speculation over Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister continues.
Peter Mandelson is under increasing pressure to return the payoff he received after being sacked as ambassador to the US in September over his friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The taxpayer-funded payoff he received after being dismissed last year could be as high as £55,000 before tax and deductions, the Sunday Times reported, with the exit payment equivalent to three months’ salary from the Foreign Office.
Although the salary has not been publicly listed by the government, the US ambassador post usually ranks at the highest end in the diplomatic service – between £155,000 and £220,000 per year.
Full details about Mandelson’s payoff will be revealed to parliament after MPs backed a call for disclosure of papers relating to his time in the government.
Sources told the Sunday Times that Mandelson had asked for a much more money than he ended up receiving. We have not been able to independently verify the contents oft the Sunday Times’ report yet.
Allies of Starmer said the peer should give the taxpayer-funded handout back or donate it to a victims’ charity. The Foreign Office said a review had been launched “in light of further information that has now been revealed”.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said:
Peter Mandelson’s civil service employment was terminated in accordance with legal advice and the terms and conditions of his employment.
Normal civil services HR processes were followed. Further information will be provided to parliament as part of the government response to the motion passed last week which is being coordinated by the Cabinet Office.
