Mandelson wants Brussels job, say friends
Friends of Peter Mandelson have re-kindled speculation about his future by saying he wants a job in Brussels.
It was reported that the former Northern Ireland Secretary is ambitious for a post as one of Britain's European Union commissioners.
And it was also reported that Mr Mandelson was happy he could bring evidence to the Hammond Inquiry into the Hinduja passport affair that would cast doubt on the reasons for his resignation.
Mr Mandelson was not available for comment to PA News but a series of stories carried in daily newspapers made clear that the ex-Ulster Secretary was back from holiday and actively canvassing options for his future.
He was said to have accepted he could never return to a Labour Cabinet and the question of his future as MP for Hartlepool was left in doubt.
Mr Mandelson was involved in controversy on Thursday after a TV cameraman fell to the ground as the former minister and his security entourage swept through a group of reporters.
BBC cameraman Peter Thompson, 33, was knocked over a stone wall on to a grass verge at St Hilda's Church in Mr Mandelson's Hartlepool constituency as he arrived for a commemorative service with clergymen and parishioners.
Mr Thompson maintained that he had been pushed by the MP as he tried to film him. "I didn't have time to get out of the way. I was shocked when he pushed me over." he said.
A spokesman for Mr Mandelson said: "We all sympathise with the media's need for news pictures but to behave like that in the grounds of a church is not right.
"They were blocking the way, tripping over each other and finally, one of them fell over a gravestone. "
