Lord Mandelson is FINALLY off authorities’s books after being ‘withdrawn’ as US envoy over Epstein hyperlinks… however Foreign Office chief admits Brits would possibly NEVER know if he was handed payoff

Lord Mandelson is finally off the government’s payroll after being axed over his Jeffrey Epstein links, a top mandarin revealed today.

Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins was grilled about the handling of the former US ambassador’s departure as he gave evidence to MPs.

But although Sir Olly confirmed that the New Labour architect was ‘withdrawn’ from his £160,000 a year post rather than resigning, he refused to say whether he received a payoff.

Instead he merely stressed that the peer was ‘dealt with in accordance with his contract’ and the department will only reveal details of payoffs if they are over £300,000.   

Lord Mandelson was sacked in September  after emails emerged in which he told Epstein to ‘fight for early release’.

The exchange took place shortly before the paedophile financier was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Lord Mandelson is finally off the government’s payroll after being sacked over his Jeffrey Epstein links, a top mandarin revealed today

Lord Mandelson was also reported to have told Epstein ‘I think the world of you’ the day before the sex offender began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.

The peer has previously said he continued his association with Epstein ‘for too long’. 

Appearing before the Commons Foreign Affairs committee this afternoon, Sir Olly was asked if Lord Mandelson was still on the civil service payroll and said ‘no’. 

Challenged on whether there had been a payoff, Sir Olly said: ‘The way in which we deal with individual employees’ termination under their contract must remain confidential between us…

‘So I am not at liberty to say whether a settlement was made in his case.

‘All I can tell you is that it was done absolutely in accordance with his written contract with us.’

Sir Olly insisted that ‘any implications of his termination will be reported in our annual report and accounts’.

However, he added that termination payments below £300,000 are not typically itemised. 

‘We will follow our usual process,’ he added.

The departure of Lord Mandelson helped pitch the government into chaos in September. 

It came hot on the heels of Angela Rayner quitting after admitting failing to pay enough stamp duty. 

Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins was grilled about the handling of the former US ambassador’s departure as he gave evidence to MPs

Speaking to reporters during his trade mission to Mumbai last month, the PM was asked if he could see a future for Lord Mandelson in frontline politics.

Sir Keir replied: ‘Not in a Government role in terms of future appointments.

‘I think Peter is also on a leave of absence from the Lords in any event so the issue of the whip doesn’t arise.’

Lord Mandelson technically does not have the Labour whip in the Lords as when he started his post as ambassador to Washington he took a leave of absence from Parliament’s upper chamber.