Hague leads attack on Mandelson's return

This statement from the Shadow Foreign Secretary has just been issued by CCHQ:

“Today’s reshuffle demonstrates a stunning failure of judgement by Gordon Brown. In bringing back Peter Mandelson – the man who created Labour spin – he has broken his promise to govern in an honest and open way. You can only conclude that his appointment was designed to distract from the changes he should have made. By leaving in place a Chancellor who has failed and a Foreign Secretary who has undermined him at every opportunity Gordon Brown has also been exposed as weak. With this bizarre reshuffle the Prime Minister has achieved the impossible and made the Government even more dysfunctional.”

The organisational strength of CCHQ is proven again with their rapid response document to the Mandelson appointment and wider reshuffle: Download PDF of CCHQ reshuffle document.

Comments

[Vincent Wall]

Why is Hague doing this rather than Spelperkin? Does she do ANYTHING?

[Roger Evans]

So 'Three Strikes and Your Out' has become Nulab's reshuffle strategy.

[RichardJ]

This is it. This is war. Gordon Brown has now recruited the Devil himself. The next election will be the ultimate battle between good and evil.

My employers really shouldn't give me champagne in the morning...

[Watervole]

An appointment of such cynicism that words fail me. A complete insult to the long-suffering electorate who are hard up, can't get jobs and who have been repeatedly lied to by this government.

Patronage, privilege, spin and economic ineptitude are the watchwords of Gordon Brown, far more than they ever were of Tony Blair.

If this is experience, then they can keep it. This brings the government into such disrepute that the electorate will never trust anyone again.

A Secretary of the Cabinet, given a peerage for what exactly? who will be unaccountable in the House of Commons? who has a track record of failure and sleaze.

Unbelievable. This shows Brown's utter disregard for the democratic process.

[Mike]

I understand that Mr Blunkett is hailing the return of our Trade Commissioner as "a masterstroke" (it takes one failed minister to spot another). Presumably, as part of his new portfolio Mr, or should it be Lord, Mandelson will made responsible for mortgages and enforcing ethical practices in the finance sector; he is, after all, an expert in this field.

[ACT]

Hush now, how the Gover's ears will be burning. After all, was recruiting Mandy to our side not his wettest of wet dreams?

[Andrew Lilico]

I presume that Mandelson will now be known as the Dark Lord or the Lord of Darkness, instead of the Prince of Darkness?

[resident leftie]

I'm glad to see this appointment has hit a raw nerve.

Posted by: Watervole | October 03, 2008 at 13:32
Unbelievable. This shows Brown's utter disregard for the democratic process.

Oh, come on! This is from the party owned lock, stock and barrel by Lord Ashcroft. At least Mandelson served as an MP for twelve years.

Do you want to ban all cabinet appointments from the Lords you don't like? Better kick out Baroness Warsi and Baroness Neville-Jones, then.

[Hawkeye]

Watervole said "Patronage, privilege, spin and economic ineptitude are the watchwords of Gordon Brown"

He's a socialist isn't he? What do you expect? Those attributes are SOP for socialists.

[Donal Blaney]

As Mandy boasts he is "a fighter, not a quitter" will he spurn the coward's route back to Parliament and instead fight a by-election?

I thought not.

[Oscar Miller]

Gordon Brown has just irrevocably trashed his own brand. Gone are the heady days of June 2007 when he promised an end to spin and saw off the detested spin doctors. Now they are all back – Alistair Campbell – Peter Mandelson. Brown was supposed to restore trust in government and now he’s blown it. Many in the electorate will no doubt be thinking "there is nothing that you could ever say to me now that I could ever believe".

[RichardJ]

"Oh, come on! This is from the party owned lock, stock and barrel by Lord Ashcroft. At least Mandelson served as an MP for twelve years."

Ashcroft has never resigned from the Cabinet twice in scandalous circumstances. Mandelson is tainted with sleaze in the public mind.

[Graeme Archer]

I honestly thought this was a joke. What next? Neil Kinnock to organise the pre-election campaign rally?

[resident leftie]

Posted by: RichardJ | October 03, 2008 at 14:18

Mandelson is tainted with sleaze in the public mind.

And this differs from Ashcroft how?

Posted by: Hawkeye | October 03, 2008 at 13:59

Watervole said "Patronage, privilege, spin and economic ineptitude are the watchwords of Gordon Brown"

He's a socialist isn't he? What do you expect? Those attributes are SOP for socialists.

This from the party of Ashcroft, dear little Gideon and his 18 fellow cabinet millionaires, Cameron and his dog sledge, and Lamont and Lawson? Don't make me laugh.

[London Tory]

Remember the classic anecdote about Mandelson on one of his rare visits to Hartlepool. Trailed by the press, and in his best "man of the people" mode, PM wafted into the local chippy for some lunch, and spotting some mushy peas said:

"I'll have some guacamole with my chips, petal".

[Dominic Britain]

Never rely on the British Public to pick the right Government until the economy and everything else comes crashing down around them.
Unless Cameron has a Shadow Cabinet that does not include people like Maude, Spelman, Villiers, May, Letwin we will not win the next election. Never expose these people to interviews or appearances on Question Time and the like as they and others like them are a liability.
Watching Question Time I could not help admiring the skill of Lord Heseltine with ease he put his points over with strength conviction skill and demolished the opposing views convincingly. In every interview he commands respect and always keeps the interviewer in their place and can be very aggressive when need be.
These remarks can be applied to so may of the previous Government incumbents like Thatcher, Tebbit, Clarke and many more in depth. It strikes me apart from William Hague most of the present Shadow Cabinet seems to get pushed around and is treated rather badly and when I see Andrew Neil more a less sneering down his nose at everybody apart from Boris and Hague it makes my blood boil.
I would like to see much more aggression more passion and assertion and please stop being ever so humble.
Who can come up with a dream Shadow Cabinet that can take apart Mandy, Blears and the rest of Labour’s scurvy bunch of incompetents that have presided over a very bad period for Britain?

[Hardcore Conservative]

This smacks of UTTER DESPERATION.

[David Cooper]

You couldn't make this up.

This week's New Statesman carries the following headline on its front cover, as just spotted on a newsagent's shelf and confirmed via the online link: -

"Exclusive. Peter Mandelson: I support Gordon Brown, but..."

Over to Guido to run a sentence-completing competition?

[seasider]

"Gone are the heady days of June 2007 when he promised an end to spin and saw off the detested spin doctors"

It'll be a relief to the public if Mrs. Spelman will make a full and honest declaration asap, that the Conservative party never spins or employs spin doctors.

[NigelC]

Even the readers of the BBC website seem to think this stinks.
Take a look at the Reader Recommended comments on the Have Your Say topic on the reshuffle.

I particularly liked the "an MFI kitchen cabinet would be better at running the economy" posted there

[Boff]

Mandelson is tainted with sleaze in the public mind.

And this differs from Ashcroft how?

To my knowledge Lord Ashcroft is not tainted at all. What sleaze are you talking about, resident leftie?

[Mark Fulford]

Not only is the cupboard bare, the cabinet’s now full of re-used rejects.

I’m sure the only reason Gordon has promoted a Blairite is to hamstring Milliband. It's cynical but desperate stuff to promote a sworn enemy in order to save your skin.

[Jill, London]

Apparently Mandelson called Comrade Brown “psychologically flawed” – and this – ironically – is another instance. It seems unbelievable that a former Labour minister who had to resign twice from the Cabinet is now ‘rewarded’ with a peerage!

As for who owns the Labour Party – why their whole raison d’etre is to be the political arm of the trade union movement! And any Labour government’s purpose was – and is - to make legislation to suit their trade union paymasters. Plus ca change.

[Deborah]

My favourite Mandelson quote (courtesy of Peter Oborne's "The Rise of Political Lying"):

"I don't think I've got anything to lose by being honest at this stage in my political career..." (on taking his Job as British Commissioner at Brussels.)

[snegchui]

It is an amazing return for Mandelson. I think that a major part of his role will be to snipe at George Osborne and attack his suitability for government.

[NigelC]

Nick Robinson is getting a hammering on his BBC blog too. When will they realise they are so out of tune with the electorate at the BBC

[GB£.com]

Well just when the goverment is attacking banks for hiding the extent of their financial transactions, Brown decides to rehire the very man who had to resign for the same reason...

[David (One of many)]

"It is an amazing return for Mandelson. I think that a major part of his role will be to snipe at George Osborne and attack his suitability for government."

Bit rich, don't you think?

[Oscar Miller]

Not only is the cupboard bare, the cabinet’s now full of re-used rejects.

Mind you it does show Brown is committed to recycling.

[mail]

Guido Fawkes' political blog is full of the most hateful homophobic comments about this appointment. unbelievable.

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8212152&postID=4051355010428930526&isPopup=true

[snegchui]

Have to remember that despite all the headlines and finger-waving, Mandelson was not charged with anything, Hinduja case "Sir Anthony Hammond came to the conclusion that neither Mandelson nor anyone else had acted improperly". In the loan scandal, it was the lack of declaration of interest rather than a proven case of misuse of influence. However, I also think he should never have been allowed back at all as it sends the message that is OK to be cavalier with ones influence as a Minister.
But he is back and there is nothing we can do about that for now. I think he will be seeking to undermine Osborne's suitability for Govt on the grounds of inexperience and lack of empathy with the ordinary voter. I expect plenty of smoke over the next few months and no fires to trace them to. Expect unsettling suppositions that have no origin but "have always been there".
The worst aspect of the Blair/Campbell/Mandelson reign is the corrosion of decency and some kind of honesty and integrity in politics and this is a sad day for all parties and the electorate. Spin, lies and working smoke and mirrors.

[The Freedom Association]

This strikes me as the most cynical pact since Stalin and Hitler got together to carve up Poland. Brown is obviously the latter-day Stalin, which leaves Mandelson as . . .

I just hope they don't have plans to invade Wales with a blitzkrieg down the M4 Corridor.

[resident leftie]

Posted by: Boff | October 03, 2008 at 15:27

To my knowledge Lord Ashcroft is not tainted at all. What sleaze are you talking about, resident leftie?

Rather than retierate my previous offerings, just pick one of the 24,000 "Ashcroft sleaze" entries on google.

Here is one to keep you going. I had to split the url.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/
politics/2007/nov/09/uk.conservatives2

Posted by: London Tory | October 03, 2008 at 15:02:

Remember the classic anecdote about Mandelson on one of his rare visits to Hartlepool. Trailed by the press, and in his best "man of the people" mode, PM wafted into the local chippy for some lunch, and spotting some mushy peas said:

"I'll have some guacamole with my chips, petal".

This "classic ancedote" is a joke attributed to Neil Kinnock, although he missed out your delightfully homophobic "petal", an addition you can claim for your own.

[Dorian Grape]

Mandelson declares 'it's good to be back' - Times Online

Hello, Hello, it's is good to be back, it's good to be back,
Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, I'm back again, I'm back,
I'm on the right track,
Hello, Hello tell all your friends I'm back, I'm back as a matter of fact,
as a matter of fact I'm back

So did Gary Glitter and he is about as equally as welcome.

[Jill, London]

For further clarification on the Mandelson mushy peas/guacamole story:

“Adam Boulton has just lifted the lid on the reality behind the urban myth that Peter Mandelson once mistook mushy peas for guacamole in a chip shop. The incident occurred, said Adam on Sky News, but it was an unnamed American researcher who made the mistake, not Mandelson. The story grew legs, apparently, because Peter’s good friend Neil Kinnock spread it round (the rumour, not the guacamole…). [SIC]”

LINK: http://tomcharris.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/guacamole-gate-mandelson-cleared/

[Jill, London]

Guido has a different take on the Mandelson ‘come back’ to a lot of us:

“UPDATE: Am beginning to think that Brown has been quite clever, with the return of Mandelson, he will no longer be the public's most hated Labour politician.”

LINK: http://www.order-order.com/

[RichardJ]

"So did Gary Glitter and he is about as equally as welcome."

At least Glitter can sing. What use is Mandelson?

[Simon R]

I would like to agree with Dominic Britain, we do need more aggressive trench fighters to put our case, now (thank God) that after the conference they finally have a case to put. As they get increasingly desperate Labour will go on the attack. I hate what Hazel Blears stands for, but her ferocity is admirable. I thought on last weeks question time, Theresa May actually stood up rather well against her. Though Blears certainly won on points, it wasn't the slaughter it could have been. Lucky Fraser Nelson was on there to be utterly convincing.

[Dorian Grapeshot -Resident Feudalist]

'This "classic ancedote" is a joke attributed to Neil Kinnock, although he missed out your delightfully homophobic "petal", an addition you can claim for your own.'

Yo, Resident Leftie.

Homophobic? You write well and appear to be reasonably coherent for a leftie person but you blow it by expecting and accusing like the late, unlamented Super Plod of London.

Petal is a commonly used northern epithet and in this context has nothing whatsover to do with hate crimes. Sexist, arguably, but hate crime 'tis not.

Stay here and let us liberate your mind. You know you want Conservatising -admission is the first step to recovery.

[Ulster Tory]

Gives us quite a good attack line. Challenge Mandelson to fight a by-election, to prove the public want him back. It will highlight his shortcomings. And then when he refuses (you think he'd be brave enough to accept?), we can paint Brown and Mandelson as bottlers, weak and out-of-touch.

[resident leftie]

Posted by: Dorian Grapeshot -Resident Feudalist | October 03, 2008 at 17:27

Petal is a commonly used northern epithet and in this context has nothing whatsover to do with hate crimes. Sexist, arguably, but hate crime 'tis not.

I'm aware that petal is used in this fashion, as is love, but I think the context says otherwise.

And though homophobia is reprehensible, it's not a hate crime, or all the anonymous and not so anonymous contributors to order-order would aready have had their collars felt by Plod.

[Julian Melford]

Mandelson was one of the reasons New Labour lost its sheen. Regardless of his sexuality - which probably isn't a plus with traditional working class voters - he can only be seen to be an electoral liability.

Maybe they should use him to stimulate activity in the mortgage market?

[Curly]

Government of the living dead, has Brown run out of imagination?

[Ulster Tory]

Is it just me, or in the picture on top of the video link does Mandy look like Ben Harper from My Family?

[Ric]

When Peter Mandelson first went to Hartlepool, to be interviwed for possible adoption as the towns parliamentary candidate, he was accompanied by a very attractive young woman. The story was spread about that she was his fiancee. This helped him to be adopted by the Hartlepool Labour Party and his subsequent election to Parliament. I wonder what happened to that young woman.

[Dominic]

Gord and Dolly Draper sang in their hour of need a song in desperation to Mandy and he came running.The words seem to fit
I remember all my life
Raining down as cold as ice
A shadow of a man
A face through a window
Crying in the night
The night goes into

Morning, just another day
Happy people pass my way
Looking in their eyes
I see a memory
I never realized
you made me so happy, oh Mandy

Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mandy
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
I need you today, oh Mandy

I'm standing on the edge of time
I Walked away when love was mine
Caught up in a world of uphill climbing
The tears are in my mind
And nothing is rhyming, oh Mandy

Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mandy
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy

Yesterday's a dream I face the morning
Crying on the breeze
the pain is calling, oh Mandy

Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mandy
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy

[C List and Proud]

This from the party of Ashcroft, dear little Gideon and his 18 fellow cabinet millionaires, Cameron and his dog sledge, and Lamont and Lawson? Don't make me laugh.

Posted by: resident leftie | October 03, 2008 at 14:34

That would be the succesful business people now all stepping up to the plate to sort out the mess GB has left GB in, would it?

Mandelson took out a dodgy loan, lied about it on the mortgage application for his other loan, then he fiddled the passport applications for two Labour donors. That makes him sleazy.

Since geting to the EU he has shat upon Africa from a great height by failing to stand up for what the man who sent him there demanded - namely reform of the CAP. The collapse of Doha is a major factor in the credit crunch. His paws are all over that as well. That makes him incompetent.

Is there any way I can withhold that proportion of my tax that will pay his ministerial salary?

One tiny silver lining. The whole country will now be behind reform of the House of Lords so this particular peer will be out on his ear by 2015!

[P Reynolds]

Nice to see labour keeping up with their recyling duties

[Opinicus]

At the next PMQ someone needs to ask Brown

"in the PM's opinion, how many times does a minister have to resign under a cloud before he renders himself unfit for further public office?"