Full text

Mandelson: 'I do not desire a return to government'

Statement from Peter Mandelson MP today on the results of the inquiry by Sir Anthony Hammond into the Hinduja passports affair

The Hammond Inquiry: full text

guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 March 2001 12.04 GMT

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson talks to reporters outside his home in his Hartlepool constituency

The sound of insolence: Peter Mandelson. Photo: PA.

I am grateful to Sir Anthony Hammond for this thorough and comprehensive report which requires careful and considered reading. I have read it with a great sense of gratitude and considerable relief.

These are Sir Anthony's key findings in relation to my actions:

In respect of the passport application, Sir Anthony found:

• that "Mr Mandelson behaved perfectly properly"
• that "Mr Mandelson did not try to influence Mr O'Brien or his officials at any point and did not make representations on behalf of Mr Hinduja's application"

In respect of sponsorship of the Dome, Sir Anthony found:

• that "Ministers generally and Mr Mandelson, in particular, acted correctly"

In respect of briefing the Observer newspaper, Sir Anthony states:

• that "I do not believe Mr Mandelson was seeking to be evasive"

In respect of the whole chain of events, Sir Anthony found:

• that "I do not believe that Mr Mandelson has tried to deceive anyone during the course of these events"
• that "Throughout his evidence to me, Mr Mandelson has been consistent and frank"

He found:

• that there was "no reason to doubt Mr Mandelson's honesty throughout this period"

In sum, Sir Anthony's report establishes that I did not lie; that I did not deceive; that I did not set out to mislead.

I am grateful to Sir Anthony for clearing my name and restoring my reputation.

This was indeed a muddle rather than a misrepresentation and I would like to say how much I regret the part I played in creating this muddle.

I feel I can now draw a line under these events. I intend to concentrate on winning back the full trust of my Hartlepool constituents and serving in Parliament for another term. For reasons I hope people will understand, I do not desire a return to government. There are more ways to serve New Labour and to fulfil our ambitions for the country and that is what I intend to do.

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