One of the UK''s most controversial political figures Peter "Prince of Darkness" Mandelson is to be the European Union''s commissioner for trade! This appointment is yet another remarkable resurrection in his political career. Twice he has risen to take important cabinet posts under Blair, twice he has been been forced to resign due to scandals. Barely 18 months into his government career in late 1998, Mandelson had to resign as trade minister for accepting a large loan to buy a house. Mr Mandelson had taken a loan from the then Paymaster General, Geoffrey Robinson. The loan was not listed in the Register of Members Interests and moreover, the governmental department responsible for investigating Mr Robinson's business affairs was the DTI.

Then by 1999 he was back in the cabinet in the sensitive post of minister for Northern Ireland, however this run was ended by another scandal, this time about British passports for the ultra-rich Indian Hinduja brothers, who had appeared in court in connection with a 1986 arms dealing scandal.An arch-manipulator, Peter Mandelson was and is a close friend and associate of the Prime Minister, Tony Blair. He was widely touted as the genius behind the election landslide victory of New Labour in 1997. He advised the Prime Minister on health and education policies. He also used his Machiavellian talents to organise the Downing Street fightback during the Cheriegate affair.AS A European commissioner Mandelson will earn a basic salary of £144,000 per year—three times what he earns as an MP. On top of that he will receive an annual £24,000 housekeeping and chauffeur allowance, a relocation payment of £23,000, a £7,000 entertainment allowance and travel expenses. That adds up to a grand total of £198,000 for a year's work. And the EU pension scheme will pay out two thirds of his final salary after he retires.Britain's current appointed commissioners are former Tory chairman Chris Patten and former Labour leader Neil Kinnock. One of Kinnock's responsibilities was to prevent fraud. But his reign has been marked by a string of sleaze scandals, notably at Eurostat, the EU statistics agency. At least £3.5 million disappeared from Eurostat's accounts into slush funds and fake companies. Earlier this year a report by MEPs into the affair severely criticised Kinnock for failing to control the agency's finances or take responsibility for the scandal.In 1999 the entire European Commission—including Kinnock—was forced to resign after an independent investigation issued a damning report on corruption and nepotism in the EU executive