The Metropolitan Police has apologised to Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle after accidentally revealing that he was the source of a tipoff that Peter Mandelson planned to flee the UK, leading to the former ambassador's arrest. Senior Scotland Yard officers met Hoyle in person on Wednesday to explain the error, which is regarded internally as a serious breach of protocol.
Hoyle told MPs on Wednesday that he passed information to police in good faith after receiving it from an individual in a position of authority in the British Virgin Islands. The information suggested Mandelson was preparing to travel to the territory. Hoyle had visited the Caribbean territory last week for a three-day trip marking the 75th anniversary of its assembly.
Mandelson, who is being investigated for alleged misconduct in public office, was arrested and questioned on Monday. He denies any wrongdoing and was furious at the move, saying detectives had agreed to interview him under caution next month but that someone had falsely claimed he was preparing to flee to the British Virgin Islands.
An official custody document shared with Mandelson's lawyers is understood to have referred to the Lords speaker as the source of the information—a mistaken reference to Hoyle. After the Lords speaker, Michael Forsyth, denied tipping off police, Hoyle confirmed he was the source. Mandelson's lawyers have written to the Met asking upon what evidence the arrest was based. He was released on bail and is understood to have surrendered his passport.
