VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Lord Mandelson

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 26 January 2026UIN 105838

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there was a cost to the public purse for external legal advice relating to the departure of Lord Mandelson as (a) Ambassador and (b) from the Civil Service.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Government has established processes to seek external legal advice in line with normal practice. The Government does not routinely comment on specific legal advice that it may or may not have received.

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