The Return Of Mandelson
Peter Mandelson has been drafted back into government in a surprise move, as Gordon Brown reshuffles his cabinet.
Mr Mandelson, who had two cabinet jobs under Tony Blair, is expected be made Business Secretary with a seat in the House of Lords. He is no longer an MP.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7650013.stm
Does the bould Gordo clasp a viper to his Bosom?...Well, he probably clasps a few, it being politics, but this one is a viper with a long history, and is hated even by other vipers......
Newer Burmecia
03-10-2008, 12:30
Everybody needs a third chance, do they not/
Rambhutan
03-10-2008, 13:18
Let's hope he gives without taking
Forsakia
03-10-2008, 13:45
It's pretty desperate to welcome the prince of darkness back. As someone else has said, what happened to the end of the age of spin.
Hydesland
03-10-2008, 14:00
I doubt he could do much to make the party look any worse at this point in time to be honest.
Eofaerwic
03-10-2008, 17:14
I doubt he could do much to make the party look any worse at this point in time to be honest.
When you've hit rock bottom...
[NS::]Steenhuffel
03-10-2008, 18:46
When you've hit rock bottom...
... you should stop digging.
Something that Brown clearly hasn't realised.
Dumb Ideologies
03-10-2008, 18:57
I like Peter Mandelson, and think he has been portrayed extremely unfairly by the press. However, media and public opinion of him being as it is, this is unlikely to have a positive impact on the party's popularity.
[NS::]Steenhuffel
03-10-2008, 19:12
I like Peter Mandelson, and think he has been portrayed extremely unfairly by the press. However, media and public opinion of him being as it is, this is unlikely to have a positive impact on the party's popularity.
You may well be right about him being portrayed unfairly and I do have to admit that he's done a pretty good job at the EU trade commissioner.
However, a lot of Brown's problems come down to the fact that he is coming across as small minded and petty (and briefing against his own ministers) and, ultimately, more spin than substance. Hiring someone as heavily associated with spin-doctoring as Mandelson is only going to reinforce the negative perceptions of Labour in general and Brown in particular.
That said, I don't think that there is anything Labour could do now to save themselves and the sooner the whole sorry mess is flushed the better.