He also criticised the plan to phase out hereditary peers as "confused and dishonourable", telling peers it went against an undertaking made by former Lord Chancellor LordIrvineofLairg in 1999 that they would remain until the Upper House was fully reformed.
Mr Mandelson's friends, who are conducting his defence while he takes a holiday, say that he was subjected to a kangaroo court composed of Jonathan Powell, the Downing Street chief of staff, Sir Richard Wilson, the cabinet secretary and the Lord Chancellor, LordIrvineofLairg.