'Talents' meant Mandelson was 'worth the risk' for job

LORD Peter Mandelson's "singular talents" meant he was deemed "worth the risk" to appoint as ambassador after checks were carried out, a Cabinet minister has said.

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The Labour grandee was sacked from his post on Thursday morning after emails were published showing Lord Mandelson sent supportive messages to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein even as he faced jail for sex offences.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle rejected claims that Lord Mandelson was appointed as the UK's top diplomat in Washington before security checks were completed.

The Cabinet Office undertook an independent inquiry and presented information to the Prime Minister, he said.