Mandelson, the computer king and a party on a luxury yacht

[emad]

Times
By Anthony Browne, Daniel McGrory and Lewis Smith

POLITICAL foes of Peter Mandelson are demanding that he should explain why he spent New Year’s Eve on the yacht of a billionaire who is at the centre of a major EU investigation.

The European Trade Commissioner was forced to admit that he was a guest at a party thrown by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft.

Details of Mr Mandelson’s Caribbean holiday emerged as the sleaze row deepened over European commissioners accepting free hospitality.

Close aides of Mr Mandelson emphasised last night that while he did speak to Mr Allen on the deck of his 414ft yacht, Octopus, he and the world’s seventh richest man did not discuss business at the drinks party. Film stars and business leaders were among the 200 guests on what has become the most coveted invitation for those holidaying on the Caribbean island of St Barthelemy.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1580068,00.html

[wakeme2008]

1. In 2003 this was yacht 1 of American's top 100 yachts

(Allen, called the “accidental zillionaire” in his unauthorized biography, also owns Nos. 3 and 14.)

http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/megayachts/1103top100/index1.html#