Lord Peter Mandelson is no longer on police bail, and has instead been released under investigation after his arrest last Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released under investigation.
“The investigation remains ongoing”.
Police officers had arrested Mandelson last Monday after reports the former US Ambassador was a flight risk, a claim his lawyers have denied.
Mandelson spent around nine hours in police custody before he was released on bail, a condition that meant he would have had his passport taken away.
The fact he is now under investigation rather than on bail suggests is no longer considered a flight risk, and will have his passport returned.
Being released under investigation also means that there is no fixed date when the suspect is required to return to the police station.
After his release on investigation, lawyers representing Mandelson said: “In light of speculation following his arrest last week, we wish to clarify that the Metropolitan Police have removed all of Peter Mandelson’s bail conditions and returned his passport.
“Our client did not and does not pose a flight risk and will continue to cooperate with the police investigation. He will not be making any further comment at this stage.”
The Metropolitan Police had to apologise to the Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle last week after they revealed during their investigation that Hoyle was the source of claims that Mandelson was a flight risk.
Hoyle revealed he had passed information to the Metropolitan Police about Lord Peter Mandelson, after the peer claimed “baseless suggestions” he was a flight risk had led to his arrest this week.
In a statement in Parliament last Wednesday morning, Sir Lindsay said he wanted to confirm media reports that he was the source of the information, which Lord Mandelson claims was the reason for his arrest, to “prevent any inaccurate speculation”.
Hoyle had reportedly been informed that the peer was allegedly planning to flee Britain for the British Virgin Islands.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
