Peter Mandelson refuses four times to answer key question over Oleg Deripaska

Paul Waugh has the story in the Evening Standard:

The noble peer is asked no fewer than four times (it may even be five times) whether he discussed aluminium tariffs with Oleg Deripaska on his yacht this summer. Four times he refuses to answer and tries to deflect the issue with guff about sensationalist media witchunts.

The only sensible conclusion to draw is that Mandelson did indeed discuss the tariffs. Sadly, he’s probably banking on the fact that there is no tape available of their meetings and old Oleg is the last person to land him in it.

BBC reporter Richard Galpin deserves full credit for not backing off and for ensuring this was no patsy interview.