Mandelson faces grilling by MPs
Peter Mandelson is set to be quizzed by MPs when he attends a session with the Business and Enterprise Committee on October 21st.
Lord Mandelson the newly appointed business secretary will be subject to questions from the committee over the government’s stance the current economic crisis and how it will affect businesses.
He will also be called to explain his personal ambitions for the role.
In a separate development, Mr Mandelson has been stripped of his role as anti-corruption champion, a function enjoyed by his predecessor John Hutton.
The post has been transferred to Jack Straw, justice secretary, who admitted he was given it by “personal appointment” of the prime minister.
That led Tories to suggest tensions between Gordon Brown and Lord Mandelson were already starting to become serious.
“We’re being told it’s all sweetness and light between Gordon Brown and Lord Mandelson, but for some inexplicable reason the prime minister has decided not to trust his new business secretary with an anti-corruption portfolio held by the previous incumbent,” said shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert.
After leaving his job as Britain’s EU Commissioner Mr Mandelson stated his new role was a “great challenge and a great opportunity”.
He continued: “Our economy, like every other, is facing a very hard challenge as a result of the global financial crisis.
“In a sense it’s all hands on deck.”
The reinstatement of Mr Mandelson provoked considerable surprise among Westminster observers.
The former EU commissioner has twice been forced to resign from government under cloudy circumstances and had well-publicised arguments with Mr Brown during the early years of the New Labour project.
