Russian tycoon lands Mandelson in favours row
Published Date:
12 October 2008
By Tom Peterkin
Scottish Political Editor
PETER Mandelson was embroiled in controversy last night after it was reported that he gave trade concessions worth up to £50m a year to Russia's richest man, who entertained him on his superyacht.
Gordon Brown's newly appointed Business Secretary met Oleg Deripaska on the 238-ft yacht, Queen K, in Corfu owned by the industrialist known as the "king of aluminium" this summer.
The encounter, during Mandelson's term as European Union trade commissioner, has drawn criticism from opposition politicians over a potential conflict of interest.
Mandelson has acted to cut European aluminium import duties twice in the past three years. Deripaska's company, Rusal, the world's largest producer of aluminium, was one of the main beneficiaries.
Last night, it was reported that an authoritative source had suggested that Mandelson had spent a night on the vessel.
The business secretary now faces calls to disclose the exact hospitality he received. He denies a conflict of interest and says the changes to duties were a "routine" EC matter.
But Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat MP, said: "He should not have been accepting hospitality from a billionaire who is a clear beneficiary of his policy decisions as European commissioner."
The full article contains 202 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
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Last Updated:
12 October 2008 12:43 AM
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Source:
Scotland On Sunday
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Location:
Scotland
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Related Topics:
Labour Party
