Foreign Secretary criticizes Whitehall for Mandelson payout
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has criticized Whitehall’s human resources for granting Peter Mandelson a £75,000 payout, stating she attempted to block it several times, reports BritPanorama.
Cooper stated, “there’s been all sorts of legal and employment processes” involved, and at “different stages I’ve asked for that to be reviewed.” Her remarks come amid renewed scrutiny over the payment following recent text messages that exposed Mandelson’s private criticisms of the government.
Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK ambassador to the U.S. in September 2024 due to revelations about his close ties with Jeffrey Epstein, had initially requested a payout of around half a million pounds. Despite the scandal surrounding his dismissal, the Foreign Office proceeded with the settlement of £75,000.
The controversy over taxpayer money provided to Mandelson intensified last week as new texts revealed him disparaging his own government. In light of this, Cooper acknowledged the public’s frustration, emphasizing the complexities involved in the legal and employment processes leading to the payout.
Cooper stated, “As you can imagine, there’s been all sorts of legal processes and employment processes gone through, but at different stages I’ve asked for that to be reviewed. But, you know, I totally understand everybody’s frustration on this one, I can tell you.”
Ongoing investigations are being conducted into suspected misconduct by Lord Mandelson regarding alleged breaches of confidentiality when dealing with Epstein during his tenure as a Cabinet Minister. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing throughout.
Cooper expressed further discontent, declaring, “Peter Mandelson should never have been made ambassador in the first place,” while reiterating the fundamental issues related to Epstein’s exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining accountability and transparency in public service, reflecting broader issues regarding the handling of misconduct allegations within the UK’s political framework.
