Lord Mandelson stripped of corruption role: Downing Street defends 'natural' decision

[emad]

Torygraph cock-a-hoop!

Gordon Brown's move to strip anti-corruption responsibilities from Lord Mandelson and hand them to Jack Straw was a "natural" decision, Downing Street said.
By Andrew Porter and Matthew Moore
Last Updated: 7:58AM BST 16 Oct 2008

The new Business Secretary's portfolio will not include the job of the Government's Anti-Corruption Champion, despite Lord Mandelson's predecessor John Hutton holding the brief.

The Tories described the move as "inexplicable", and it has led to claims that Mr Brown does not trust the man he has just brought back into the Cabinet.

Mr Straw, the Justice Secretary, said that his new position is a "personal appointment" of the Prime Minister.

But a Downing Street spokeswoman insisted that there was a precedent for the change in responsibilities, and pointed out that Mr Straw had experience of anti-corruption roles.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/3205999/Lord-Mandelson-stripped-of-corruption-role-Downing-Street-defends-natural-decision.html