Standards commissioner Philip Mawer has rejected calls for a new investigation into former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Mandelson.

The former Conservative MP Ian Bruce had written to Mawer claiming that Mandelson should have registered his four-month stay at the home of fellow Labour MP Shaun Woodward, as well as money received for speaking engagements and sponsorship for his research into regional government.

However, in a letter to Bruce, Mawer said: "Having completed my preliminary inquiries into the complaints in your letter of March 4, 2002 regarding Mr Peter Mandelson, I do not, on the evidence presented, find cause for me to investigate them further."

Mandelson welcomed the news, saying: "When Mr Bruce made his complaint some made the immediate assumption of wrong-doing on my part. I am glad the commissioner has reached this positive conclusion."