A payment given to Lord Peter Mandelson when he was sacked as ambassador to the US is being reviewed after the latest revelations in the Epstein files.
The peer lost his role in September last year over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, just seven months into the job.
However, anger in Westminster has grown after the last release of documents, which indicated he leaked information to his friend while he was a government minister.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s allies have said he should give the taxpayer-funded handout, which could run into the tens of thousands, back or donate it to a victims’ charity.
The Foreign Office said a review had been launched “in light of further information that has now been revealed”.
The payoff Lord Mandelson received could be as high as £55,000 before tax and deductions, the Sunday Times reported.
The Foreign Office previously said it had “reached a settlement in order to terminate Peter Mandelson’s civil service employment with immediate effect, in accordance with legal advice and the terms and conditions of his employment”.
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Full details of the payoff are set to be revealed in parliament after MPs, but the Sunday Times suggests it could be between £38,750 and £55,000, which is based on a three-month payoff of the highest annual salary in the diplomatic service between £155,000 and £220,000.
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