Peter Mandelson Complaint
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Sir Gus O'Donnell Cabinet Secretary Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall London SW1A 2AS 18/08/09 Sent by letter and fax 02072760208
Dear Cabinet Secretary,
Regarding Lord Mandelson's recent meeting with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Corfu We are writing regarding the recent allegations surrounding Lord Mandelson and his meeting with Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi at a Corfu villa only a week before the announcement that the perpetrator of the Lockerbie bombing (Abdelbaser Ali al-Megrahi) was to be released from prison in the United Kingdom. It was admitted in the Financial Times on 16th August by Lord Mandelson's spokesman that the stays by the two men overlapped by only one night. Yet the pair did talk about Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, “There was a fleeting conversation about the prisoner; Peter was completely unsighted on the subject,” he said. It was only one week later that news emerged that Mr Megrahi could get an early release on compassionate grounds because he is suffering from terminal cancer. Lord Mandelson said through his spokesman that he had had no involvement in the decision and only learnt of it through the BBC. Mr Megrahi’s possible release was a decision entirely for the Scottish government rather than London. From looking at the Ministerial Code of Conduct there appears to be a conflict of interest that has been breached. This refers to section 7.1 of the ministerial code, ''Ministers must ensure that no conflict arise, or could reasonably be perceived to arise between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise.'' As Lord Mandelson's government portfolio covers the area of Business, Enterprise and
T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : [email protected] Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.
Regulatory Reform and as Lord President of the Council he may have been vaguely aware of the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. But as the final decision involved the Scottish government, Lord Mandelson should definitely not have been discussing this issue before it was resolved particularly with a foreign power. To many in the British electorate the perception of Lord Mandelson's meeting would be that he was engineering Abdelbaser Al al-Megrahi's release in order for it to seen in a good light under humanitarian grounds particularly as in recent years diplomatic relations between Libyia and the United Kingdom have normalised. Can you confirm whether Lord Mandelson committed any breach of the ministerial code? If you are unable to do this, when do you propose to begin an investigation? We would be grateful for an acknowledgment of this letter by email or telephone and thank you in advance for your cooperation. Yours Sincerely
Christopher Galley Sunlight Centre for Open Politics [email protected]
T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : [email protected] Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.
Dear Cabinet Secretary,
Regarding Lord Mandelson's recent meeting with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Corfu We are writing regarding the recent allegations surrounding Lord Mandelson and his meeting with Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi at a Corfu villa only a week before the announcement that the perpetrator of the Lockerbie bombing (Abdelbaser Ali al-Megrahi) was to be released from prison in the United Kingdom. It was admitted in the Financial Times on 16th August by Lord Mandelson's spokesman that the stays by the two men overlapped by only one night. Yet the pair did talk about Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, “There was a fleeting conversation about the prisoner; Peter was completely unsighted on the subject,” he said. It was only one week later that news emerged that Mr Megrahi could get an early release on compassionate grounds because he is suffering from terminal cancer. Lord Mandelson said through his spokesman that he had had no involvement in the decision and only learnt of it through the BBC. Mr Megrahi’s possible release was a decision entirely for the Scottish government rather than London. From looking at the Ministerial Code of Conduct there appears to be a conflict of interest that has been breached. This refers to section 7.1 of the ministerial code, ''Ministers must ensure that no conflict arise, or could reasonably be perceived to arise between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise.'' As Lord Mandelson's government portfolio covers the area of Business, Enterprise and
T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : [email protected] Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.
Regulatory Reform and as Lord President of the Council he may have been vaguely aware of the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. But as the final decision involved the Scottish government, Lord Mandelson should definitely not have been discussing this issue before it was resolved particularly with a foreign power. To many in the British electorate the perception of Lord Mandelson's meeting would be that he was engineering Abdelbaser Al al-Megrahi's release in order for it to seen in a good light under humanitarian grounds particularly as in recent years diplomatic relations between Libyia and the United Kingdom have normalised. Can you confirm whether Lord Mandelson committed any breach of the ministerial code? If you are unable to do this, when do you propose to begin an investigation? We would be grateful for an acknowledgment of this letter by email or telephone and thank you in advance for your cooperation. Yours Sincerely
Christopher Galley Sunlight Centre for Open Politics [email protected]
T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : [email protected] Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.
