Behold the emergence of an official line: “No one intended this to happen, no one wanted this to happen, no one chose to make it happen, no one is responsible for it happening, it just kinda happened and we’re all very cross but I’m sure we all agree it’s time to move on.”
There is a far simpler explanation for the appointment of Mandelson. The Foreign Office knew the Prime Minister wanted it to happen despite concerns raised directly with him about Epstein & business links with China and Russia so they delivered what the boss wanted.