Overview
- Foreign Office chief Oliver Robbins told MPs that Peter Mandelson is no longer on the government payroll after being withdrawn from the Washington post.
- Robbins refused to say whether Mandelson received a settlement, citing contractual confidentiality and a practice of not itemising termination payments below £300,000.
- Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald said there was no panel interview because it was a direct ministerial appointment, and he confirmed the specific emails were not available during initial checks.
- Officials said reforms have since been introduced to direct ministerial appointments to replicate the scrutiny of a panel interview and increase oversight.
- MPs pressed for the due diligence file and records given to the Prime Minister, with Wormald pledging to consider what can be shared as questions continue over what No. 10 knew before the September 10 exchanges in Parliament.