Alicia Kearns

Alicia Kearns

Conservative — Rutland and Stamford

Speaking in the House of Commons on 16 March 2026

Debate

Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address

Contribution

For four months, I asked the Government what severance payments Mandelson received. According to the permanent secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, I received no reply due to an “error”. Now, we have the failure to release 56 documents. Mandelson should have been dismissed for gross misconduct, yet the British people had to fork out for a payout. Even though Treasury rules say that severance payments cannot be used “to avoid…unwelcome publicity or reputational damage”, Foreign Office advice to the Prime Minister said: “Given the reputational impact for HMG, a modest settlement as proposed is the recommended course of action.” Does the Minister maintain that no rules were broken with Mandelson’s payoff?

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