“Lord” Peter Mandelson has been sacked twice from the Cabinet for corruption, so it’s not exactly surprising that he was passed over for the role of the Government’s Anti-Corruption Champion, despite it it “complementing” the job of Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which Mandelson was given in the latest reshuffle. Th job was instead given to Jack Straw – why it didn’t just stay with John Hutton doesn’t make sense.

Especially since the questions being asked about his relationship with Russia’s richest man keep on rolling:

Lord Mandelson had at least two dinners with Oleg Deripaska in Moscow while he was European Trade Commissioner, it has emerged.

On the first occasion he had dinner with Mr Deripaska at the Pushkin Cafe along with Nathaniel Rothschild, co-chairman of a leading hedge fund, and Russia’s then trade minister German Gref.

More recently, Lord Mandelson had another dinner with Mr Deripaska in Moscow during which they discussed, and disagreed, over a series of economic issues…

Lord Mandelson had so far refused to reveal how well he knew Mr Deripaska after it was revealed that he attended a drinks party aboard the billionaire’s luxury yacht in Corfu in the summer. (The Telegraph)

Will this “scandal” cause the end of Mandelson’s third attempt at Cabinet position, or will it blow over?

To be fair, I’m not entirely sure exacrly what the scandal is. He’s had dinner with this rich and influential man a few times and stayed on his yacht one night. Yes, there is certainly no doubting that there was a potential conflict of interest considering Mandelson’s role as EU Trade Commissioner at the time – but I’m not sure that this quote warrants the level of interest it is getting.

It seems to me that it is only because it is Mandelson and he is so easily tarred with corruption considering his history and reputation and his recent elevation back into the Cabinet that has caused this story to be plastered across the papers.

But if he is guilty of corruption, he’s going to have to resign again.