Calls for Mandelson to lose role as high steward of Hull
Councillors have called for Lord Mandelson to be removed as high steward of Hull following his sacking as ambassador to the US.
The Labour peer was appointed to the ceremonial role in 2013 to help promote the city.
Hull City Council leader Mike Ross and the Labour group leader Daren Hale, along with the independent group of councillors, have agreed to hold a vote on his removal.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer sacked Lord Mandelson after he faced mounting scrutiny over his connections to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement, Ross said: “In light of recent developments, with agreement from the other political groups on the council, we will put forward a motion at next week’s full council meeting calling for the high steward role to be removed from Lord Mandelson.”
The position of high steward dates back to 1853 but lapsed in 1974 following the creation of the county of Humberside.
In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II gave permission for the role to be reinstated with the holder “expected to act as a highly placed lobbyist for the interests of the city”, according to the council.
Lord Mandelson launched a 10-year plan to transform Hull and supported the drive to become UK City of Culture 2017.
His grandfather, Herbert Morrison, a former Labour minister, also held the role in the 1950s.
The next full council meeting will take place on 18 September.
Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US “in light of additional information” in emails written from him to Epstein, the Foreign Office said earlier.
They showed that “the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein” was “materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”.
A statement added: “In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”
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