PETER MANDELSON’S desperation to get back into government after twice being forced to resign from Tony Blair’s cabinet is revealed in newly released official files.

He even enlisted the help of former BBC director-general Lord Birt in his campaign to secure another top job, according to papers released by the National Archives in Kew, west London.

Mr Mandelson was forced to quit as Northern Ireland secretary in January 2001 following claims he had helped the controversial Indian businessman Srichand Hinduja secure a British passport in return for sponsoring the Millennium Dome.

He had already resigned once before in a scandal over an undeclared home loan from fellow Labour minister Geoffrey Robinson.

In April 2003, Lord Birt, who was serving as a senior policy adviser in No 10, wrote to the prime minister: “As you know, Peter’s deepest wish is to return to government.

“If you judge a return to government is not possible, then he would like you to consider appointing him as EC commissioner."

Just four months later, it was announced that he was to be Britain’s next European commissioner.

He was subsequently awarded a life peerage in 2008 and is currently the British ambassador to the United States.