Peter Mandelson may have lost his prestigious posting as ambassador to Washington, resigned from the Labour Party and stepped down from an active role as a legislator in the House of Lords, but there is one thing he retains: his title.

He can still style himself Baron Mandelson, of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham.

Arrested and bailed after emails appeared to suggest that he received payments and shared sensitive government information with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (although he is understood to insist he has not acted in any way criminally and has no recollection of receiving the alleged sums), politicians are asking why he can keep the grand moniker.

Labour MPs have expressed fury over the appointment, calling it a “betrayal,” while Keir Starmer has apologised, and promised to make good on new powers to strip peers of their titles.

Currently, sanctions against a peer for bringing the House of Lords into disrepute are handled through the House of Lords Conduct Committee and the Commissioner for Standards, with options ranging from demanding an apology to expulsion.

The i Paper understands the Government is considering increasing its powers to strip titles too. Ministers want “a piece of legislation that stands the test of time,” and are also considering expanding the definition of what is considered wrongdoing.

In the House of Commons, a recall petition can prompt a by-election if an MP is suspended for a minimum of 10 sitting days or if they are convicted of an offence – the MP will........

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