British Home Secretary Mr Jack Straw has been named as the man who triggered Mr Peter Mandelson's downfall by informing British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair of a discrepancy in the former Northern Ireland Secretary's account of events.
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Mr Jack Straw, blamed
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Mr Mandelson admitted yesterday he had discussed his involvement with Indian tycoon Mr Srichand Hinduja's passport application with the Home Secretary before the story went public a week ago.
But he said he "failed to attach importance" to Mr Straw's reference to a phone call he had made to British Immigration Minister Mr Mike O'Brien.
It was his insistence later that he did not know about that phone call which led to his resignation.
Press reports suggest Mr Straw spoke to Mr Blair as soon as he became aware Mr Mandelson was denying having made the phone call. This set in train the events which led to Mr Mandelson's resignation.
In a TV interview on Sunday Mr Straw said Mr Mandelson's downfall had been "inevitable" because he had told an "untruth" and departed from the standards expected by parliament and the British public.
The British Home Office has refused to confirm Mr Straw had called Mr Blair, saying only: "We must await the outcome of the inquiry being carried out by Sir Anthony Hammond."
PA