There are a whole lot of unanswered questions. And the former Northern Ireland Secretary was also trying to move on.
People have legitimate concerns and have had for some considerable time.
The criticism has been that Peter Mandelson has been on this Northern Ireland job which has taken him away from the town, and that is understandable. For their part, the people of Hartlepool are far from sure they want him. Speaking on the World At One the editor of the Hartlepool Mail, Harry Blackwood said that his challenge now was to win back the support of his own constituents. It looks as though Mr Mandelson will have plenty of time to devote to that task now that the Labour Party has made clear that he will not be serving the party in any official capacity during any forthcoming election campaign - a point which the Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers clarified at lunchtime on The World at One. The replacement for Mr Mandelson at the Northern Ireland office is Dr John Reid, the former Scotland secretary and staunch supporter of the Prime Minister.