Mandelson tries to save anti-gay EU chief's job

Peter Mandelson has intervened to save the job of a European commissioner who has denounced homosexuals and single mothers, MEPs have claimed.

Mr Mandelson, Britain's new EU trade commissioner, has called on Labour MEPs not to block the appointment of Italian Rocco Buttiglione.

Mr Buttiglione, due to become justice and home affairs head, has attracted controversy due to speeches asserting homosexuality is a sin, single mothers are not good parents and marriage exists for a woman to have children and be protected by her husband.

Commission appointments have to be ratified by the European Parliament but a coalition of MEPs is threatening to block all 25 appointments in protest, including Mr Mandelson.