Mandelson faces questions over EU payoff

FORMER EU trade chief Peter Mandelson was elevated to the House of Lords yesterday to allow him to re-join the government — and immediately faced new criticism over money.

Just days after being appointed by British prime minister Gordon Brown as business secretary to help tackle the economic crisis, Mandelson is facing questions over a payoff and pension from the European Commission.

Mandelson, who twice resigned from Tony Blair’s cabinet under a cloud, was European Union trade commissioner from 2004 before returning to London this month and is in line for a perks package from Brussels that has been criticised by the main opposition Conservatives.