A Government minister has called for Peter Mandelson to return his “golden goodbye” payment or donate it to charity. Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, suggested the money could go to a charity specialising in tackling violence against women and girls.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr McFadden said: “Yes. Either give it back or give it to charity. Perhaps one involving violence against women and girls.” He added that he was “angry and bewildered” by the revelations about Mandelson’s links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The call comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting criticism over Mandelson’s five-figure payout following his dismissal in September. Mandelson was sacked after it emerged he had misled Mr Starmer about his friendship with Epstein. Police are investigating the former peer over allegations of misconduct in public office.
Mr McFadden defended the Prime Minister, saying he had “acted in good faith” and had never been involved with Epstein. He dismissed calls for Mr Starmer to resign, arguing that changing prime ministers every 18 months would lead to “chaos and uncertainty”.
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel described the taxpayer-funded payout as a “disgusting betrayal of Epstein’s victims”, and demanded that the Government recover the full amount.
