Does Peter Mandelson read The Telegraph?

This morning's Sunday Telegraph will not make cheery reading for Peter Mandelson. This article claims that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi had a conversation with al-Megrahi on the flight back to Tripoli and that it was recorded:

"In a transcript obtained by The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Gaddafi tells Megrahi: “You were on the table in all commercial, oil and gas agreements that we supervised in that period. You were on the table in all British interests when it came to Libya, and I personally supervised this matter. Also, during the visits of the previous prime minister, Tony Blair.... Frankly, we did a lot of work, secret and public, which involved all parties and took years. The work was constant to get your release.”"

So that's Tony Blair fingered, meanwhile

"Downing Street confirmed last night that Gordon Brown had discussed the possible release of Megrahi with Colonel Gaddafi when the two men met on the fringes of the G8 summit in Italy last month. A letter the Prime Minister sent to the Libyans, dated last Thursday, the day of the release, said: “When we met I stressed that, should the Scottish Executive decide that Megrahi can return to Libya, this should be a purely private, family occasion.”"

So that's Tony Blair and Gordon Brown fingered, now to possibly the slipperiest of the trio who designed New Labour (for what real purpose we may very soon discover), Peter Mandelson. Many have been speculating about Peter Mandelson's links to Libya and this morning The Telegraph make some astonishing claims:

"An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph has disclosed that the Business Secretary’s controversial businessmen friends, Oleg Deripaska and Nat Rothschild, have a closer relationship with Mr Gaddafi than has so far been publicly known:

Earlier this summer Mr Gaddafi hosted a birthday party where the guests included Mr Deripaska, a billionaire Russian oligarch, and Mr Rothschild, a wealthy British financier.

The 37th birthday celebrations took place in Montenegro, a tiny country whose interests have been championed by Lord Mandelson and where Mr Deripaska and Mr Rothschild have substantial business interests.

Late last year Mr Rothschild hosted a party in honour of Mr Gaddafi in New York.

Lord Mandelson has met the Libyan at least twice in the past four months. Last week he admitted to a “fleeting” discussion with Mr Gaddafi about the convicted Lockerbie bomber at the Rothschilds’ family estate in Corfu. It came just days before it emerged that preparations were being made for Megrahi’s release and raised questions from opposition politicians. "

Libya’s talk of trade deals has shone the spotlight on Lord Mandelson, who is facing mounting questions over his links with Mr Gaddafi, 37, the man widely tipped as his country’s next leader."

It is this news that Peter Mandelson has met Saif al-Islam Gaddafi not once but twice in recent months that interests me most. Peter Mandelson's office have stated that re the Corfu meeting the pair spoke only briefly but they did discuss Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. "There was a fleeting conversation about the prisoner; Peter was completely unsighted on the subject". Maybe a journalist will be brave enough to ask what was discussed at the other meeting with Colonel Gaddafi's son...


So read the whole of The Telegraph article I have quoted from as there are more juicy morsels to savour there. You might also want to read this Telegraph article about the seemingly murky world of Peter Mandelson's friends and contacts.

I wonder if Peter Mandelson might soon have to resign from government for a third time...