Mandelson: Masterstroke or mistake?

A rolling guide to Times opinion on the reshuffle. Check back here for more views on whether the Mandelson appointment is a triumph or a disaster.

Graham Stewart:

A masterstroke.  With one bold appointment, the Prime Minister has drawn the fire away from himself.  And made an old foe the new target.

Joe Joseph:

His return to the Cabinet is welcome if only because he brings much needed colour back to Labour Party politics. With his proven aptitude for embarrassing himself and his party by saying or doing the wrong thing, Peter Mandelson is the closest Westminster may have right now to a sort of domestic Sarah Palin. It's like watching a man with dynamite strapped around his chest. Sooner or later you know it's going to detonate.

Hugo Rifkind:

On the upside, it's great news for the housing market.

Alice Miles:

Mistake or masterstroke? Sign of desperation, more like. Gordon Brown was hobbled by his inability to move either his Chancellor or Foreign Secretary without sparking a Cabinet rebellion which would have led to his downfall. How to fashion a reshuffle, then, with very little room for manoeuvre, without losing face?

The extraordinary answer he seems to have come up with is Peter Mandelson. Well it has already worked: so mesmerised are the commentators by the appointment, they have overlooked the impotence it actually reveals. The twice former Cabinet minister, coming to the end of his time in Brussels, has been sniffing round the Prime Minister in the hope of a peerage for months. At lest that's what his friends say - yes, his friends: Mr Mandelson is the sort of person who has friends like that.

It will do Mr Brown no harm to have the arch strategist at his side. At first. But remember this: when Mr Mandelson senses the wind blowing in someone else's direction, he follows it. He did it in 1994, and he will do it again. So, mistake or masterstroke? Both.

Rachel Sylvester:

In the short term: masterstroke. This proves Brown is inclusive, not veering to the left, and Mandelson was a good minister.

In the long term: mistake. The rapprochement cannot last.

Matthew Parris:

The masterstroke may come from Mr Mandelson himself, but later. As for the PM's possible mistake, is it a mistake for a man losing his footing to grab at a spikey cactus for support?

Libby Purves:

Hideous, hideous mistake. Akin to trying on your old flared jeans, or getting back together with a sixth-form boyfriend on Friends Reunited, and hoping the magic isn't past its sell-by date. It always is.  It looks like an admission that there are no fresh ideas and no fresh people on the front bench.

Daniel Finkelstein:

Mistake. Gordon Brown has confused the insider and outsider reactions. It looks like a masterstroke to those who know Mandelson's strategic ability and are delighted that the Blairites are coming to the aid of the Brownites. But to the electorate Mandelson means spin. I also think that this may help in the short run but I doubt the rapprochement will last. I think this is like the second marriage of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Phil Collins:

Both. If the question is, "How do I shore up my position in the Labour party?" it's a masterstroke. If the questions is, "How do I win the election?" it's a mistake. His question is the first one, mine is the second, So therefore it's a mistake.....

Peter Riddell:

The recall of Peter Mandelson is a high risk, but very shrewd, move, intended to heal rifts within Government and is part of a strategy to reassure business and the City. It should help ensure that Gordon Brown is safe and secure at least until next summer.

David Aaronovitch:

I don't think I understand anything anymore.

Oliver Kamm:

It's an appointment born of desperation, but not all desperate resorts are poor decisions. This one is excellent. Outside the highest offices of state (and sometimes, as with Margaret Beckett, including them), Labour has been short on sheer administrative competence.

Mandelson would have provided ballast and intellectual direction for the Government had it not been for his second - in my view, harsh - resignation. John McDonnell has described Mandelson's appointment as a "step back into the archaeology of the recent period of Blairism". I have no reason to doubt this assessment, and I certainly hope it's true.

Comments

[Mike]

The thing is - nobody cares whether it's a mistake or not. We are fed up with Labour and want rid, whoever is in the cabinet.

[JonB]

Blair was rightly lambasted for showing incredibly poor judgment in bringing Mandelson back for a second time but for Brown to do it a third time is a colossal lapse of judgment. It may save Brown within his own party but Mandelson has few friends outside the Labour heirachy and the electorate will rightly see this as a desperate measure to return to the 'glory days' of New Labour by a Government that has clearly run out of ideas.

[Keith]

Sorry and all that but this is too much. The stench of corruption will follow this man around. How many times do you have to resign before somebody comes to the conclusion that you are either inept or crooked?

[K Philips]

It's one of the few things in our sad and gloomy times that actually made me laugh!

[Richard]

Well it made me laugh like crazy and I look upon it as an act of sheer desperation. Having reflected further, I think it is a huge mistake, since it will really get up the noses of those voters in Glenrothes - can Brown survive losing that seat? Probably not, so I don't subscribe to Peter Riddell's view that it ensures Brown will be safe at least until next summer.

[Richard]

Just one other thought - given his record and history, I imagine every British political journalist worth his salt will be digging like crazy for any dodgy circumstances arising from Mandy's time in Brussels - not a stone will be left unturned.

[Snorri Godhi]

Thank you for a brilliant collection of British humor.

[Anthony Thomas]

Can someone please explain to me how in earth can Gordon Brown try to blame financiers for a lack of accountability, and then appoint and reward Peter Mandelson with this appointment ?. His track record is certainly questionable in this area and what an example of leadership !!!

[Burnley Bob]

On the plus side, my pals at the top end of the Civil Service have told me that Mandy is extraordinarily able. Even more surprisingly he is, by repute, charming and polite. A good boss in fact, particularly at DTI.
On the negative side, friends that have worked with him as equals, including back in his commie days hate his guts. They say he is insecure, manipulative, transparently machiavellian, and too clever by half in a low down sort of way.
In the short term, he may be better on the inside p****** out than on the outside p****** in. But I'll bet anyone £100 quid that it will end in tears. I'll get no takers though even with generous odds.

[Cyril Berkeley]

Umm, let's try to work this out.
Most of the public regard Brown with a fair degree of contempt.
Virtually all of the public despise Mandelson as a crook.
So Brown hires Mandelson to boost his, and his Government's standing?
You've got to laugh (or at least giggle).

[Alexander]

Awesome! A great example of how out of touch the PM really is.
Get it over with Gordon!
Call the election today - can you imagine any sane person voting for a party that brings back this pariah?

[Tony G]

Forced to resign twice, and then given a sinecure in Brussels by his friend Blair. Does anyone wonder at the low standard of morals in Britain when our leaders set the example by rewarding a proven liar? Hopefully he will be scheming against Mr Broon, otherwise known as the High Priest of Global Warming, before the month is out.

[Tom Hobbs]

Mandelson left in disgrace twice and is disliked by his european counterparts; Brown must be deperate to get back to 1997. Now it only needs Tony & Alistair and we can turn the clocks back and pretend it was all a bad dream. Keep digging Gordon the hole is not deep enough yet!

[albert hall]

Nothing has changed then. I thought Gordon would really excel by bringing back Kinnock. Instead he has Meddleson.

[Alan Gooch]

Gordon's management of the economy has been 'sailing close to the wind' for the last 8 years but I didn't think that he was capable of 'walking on the wild side' to this extent. This is a risk, borne of desperation, worthy of any paid up member of gamblers anonymous. Is this the real Gordon?

[Chris McGowan]

Obviously October is going to be the month of "3rd time lucky" - Mandy back in government, Keegan back to Newcastle.

However, both are doomed to failure as neither can last the pace (albeit for different reasons).

[paul ballard]

A discredited appointment for a discredited Government.
Displays the utter lack of ability in the Labour Party

[jon dee]

Mandelsons oil-stained character will win him few friends among voters.His "previous" is remembered with much distaste.
He will however get plenty of air time with the BBC.

[andy]

David Aaronovitch's response is the most profound. It's not logical captain

[Galloway Galloper]

Burnley Bob: To be liked as a minister by top civil servants is a terrible fate. They too are, by & large, extraordinarily able, charming and polite. They can also be wondrously hypocritical, devious and manipulative, and show abysmal judgment.... All that aside, your conclusion is spot-on.

[Hal]

This is the act of a very desperate Prime Minister and as a previous blogger states just shows how little talent there obviously is in the Labour Party. Mind you with mortgages a scarcity, Meddlesome will be very useful in showing people how to fill out their application forms( remember if in doubt just do as he did, lie!)

[Bob]

It's like Kevin Keegan going back to Newcastle United, and it will end the same way.

[John]

Just what the country needs, another
lying, corrupt, unelected politician.

[Paul Barnes]

Maybe tomorrow we learn that Brown asked Tony Blair to come back as Chancellor?

[normann]

Brown spins saying Mandelson is needed in these difficult times! Brown boasts about his experience and if this is the act born out of experience, give me any day an 18 year old novice! Brown is a desperate man and Mandelson will take him with him when he again resigns probably in a few months!

Mandelson in he Brown tent should be the sure way the Labour will be consigned to oblivion in the next election.

[normann]

Brown spins saying Mandelson is needed in these difficult times! Brown boasts about his experience and if this is the act born out of experience, give me any day an 18 year old novice! Brown is a desperate man and Mandelson will take him with him when he again resigns probably in a few months!

Mandelson in he Brown tent should be the sure way the Labour will be consigned to oblivion in the next election.

[R. Norton]

If this is a masterstroke will the P.M. appointed by the present P.M. become the next P.M.?

[Jeremy James]

Brilliant move and now with Ed Miliband in the cabinet and Margaret Beckett back, the Labour heavy guns will blow Cameron's unknown lightweights out of the water.

[Jim]

Oh well, nothing new. Blunket returning a couple of times after stealing from the taxpayer. Mandelson returning, Members of parliament not wanting expense claims exposed (exposing their fiddling of taxpayers money) the list goes on.
At least the French had THEIR revolution. One day..............

[john smith]

Gordons pulled the pin on the grenade and now he wants to eat it! It gets better day by day.

[Ben Elford]

It's all part of Brown's scorched earth plan. It means he has some explosive Mandelson scandal which he can have one his minions leak to the press at a strategic time and ensure the destruction of Mandelson and any of his remaining friends.

This is, after all, the age of responsibility.

[Kirsten]

I think it shows how patently out of touch Gordon is with the public. Does he not remember how much the public revile Mandelson. It may appease the party (althought I doubt it), but the voters will be insulted and the unions incensed.

[Richard Borley]

The most sage comment was by Danial Finkelstein. "The electorate see Mandelson as spin". They also well remember that he got a mortgage by not telling the truth, something the man in the strret would never have survived.

[Coldwaterjohn]

The Captain of the ship has finally found the bung and pulled it...

[David Williams]

This move has cheered me up no end - it clearly shows how desperate Brown is and that we are seeing for sure the death throes of this inept government. Roll on the election!

[Joe Bejamin]

Typical Brownian motion: The second most unpopular person in the country is relying on the first most unpopular person in the country to boost his popularity.

[tony]

This peerage cannot be REAL, when the next government are in they must REVOKE it or else we will never be rid of sleaze.

[Rob]

If he appointed that nice chap Kenneth Clarke to a ministerial post, I might just consider voting for him next time round.

[Ronnie]

'ITS ALL OVER!

Mandelson scandal forces Brown's resignation.'

[Mario Dunn]

Tory cynics sneer - it is what you are best at.

The phoney Cameron will be found out. The polls will change. That is all that matters.

[Richard Steel]

This could well represent the dying embers of New Labour. The left are scurrying around like vultures ready to eat the decaying carcass, and in any event the public are finally ready to embrace the Tories again. It shores up Brown's own position, but election defeat is looming.

[David Heigham]

Just what is in it for Mandy? Is a Peerage worth giving up his EU Commissioner salary and perks? How does he hope to trade on his Peerage? If Labour wins the next election, does Mandy really expect gratitude? Is he running from some EU scandal that is about to break? Why Gordon Brown made the offer is evident from the comment above. But why did Peter mandelson accept it?

[Miss Thrope.]

Randy Mandy - I knew someone like that in my youth but she was a girl - or is it the same thing,........

[richard williams]

Pathetic. I can't think why he didn't exhume Harold Wilson too.

[momofarge]

It may not be as stupid as it seems. Mandelson is extremely able and, because he is in the Lords, he won't be able to mount a challenge to Gordon in the immediate future. At least it's got all the commentators and the voters thinking, which makes a change from football, reality shows and shopping

[Daphne Kenward]

This is the NO SPIN ZONE, people have to take their lives into their own hands and come up with ideas to sort out their own lives. This is not a game of ping pong. Tell a few lies and people will buy, it not this time Gordon. People want you out of 10 Downing Street.

[Michael Watson]

Mandelson is a creep - end of story.

[Mcgraw]

What a sad day for freedom and democracy.
Nu Labour are recovering in the polls.
I sincerely hope it is a blip and not a trend.
Globalist governments are very bad news indeed.
Mandelson as an EU stooge is very much a part of that setup.
I dont want an ID card
I dont want to be spyed upon.
I dont trust them one iota.
Maybe in the future these B******S
want to microchip us like dogs it will take another generation of conditioning to get there but its coming.

[Keith]

So, according to Jeremy James,Ed Miliband and Margaret Beckett are Labour's heavy guns.

Dream on Mr James....they are political lightweights and always have been.

[Sanity]

Comment by Jeremy james?? More Jimmy James- a comedy classic. Beckett and Milliband junior!! Even funnier than that other double act Balls and Darling. Heavy weights no but perhaps obese.

[Lawrence]

Bringing back Mandelson. I think our Prime Minister has gone from Stalin to Mr Bean and has now become Charlie Chaplin. With apologies to Charlie Chaplin.

[Simon Falla]

Well, if like me, you want to see the back of Labour.. then I suppose you should be about as happy as me, that this corrupt megalomaniac is coming back, like a friendly faced executioner, ready to hack New Labour's head off!...happy days!

[E R Pemberton]

It gets more like Zimbabwe every day. An unelected "leader" appoints dodgy, unelected lackeys while inflation and unemployment rise and the currency value falls. Zimbabwe's gold production has plummeted as have our gold reserves after Brown sold them at a knock-down price. In Zimbabwe farms have been destroyed and here farms will be destroyed by Labour's building plans. But we get Becket back too, despite her lack of success.

Toe-curlingly sickening.

[Leigh Vernier]

Reminds me of that corny pop song:

"Oh Mandy! You came and you took without giving... and we sent you away - Oh Mandy!"

p.s. Shouldn't it be:
Persondelson?

[Tony Hurst]

Wonder who's next: a return for the REAL "Prince of Spin", Mr Alistair Campbell, perhaps??? Now THAT would be a REALLY bold move by Broon!!!

[ET Shaw]

The return of Peter Mandelson is comparable to the abolishment of the 10% Income Tax.
It beggars belief.

[Tony Hurst]

Alistair Campbell next?

[Burnley Bob]

Galloway Galloper. All I meant was that four or five personal friends of mine, who happen to be at the top end of the service, who may be hypocritical and manipulative, rated him highly as an effective minister. They were speaking off the record. They seemed almost as surprised to be saying this as I was to hear it. In the context of a private drinks party in Highgate - a middling sort of place in North London - I don't think any axes were being ground here.
I added the comment as a balance. I certainly was not suggesting that a minister has to be liked to be effective. Nobody liked Heseltine for instance but he was capable, between hissy fits, of getting things done.
I've only met Mandy once and didn't like him. He seemed a little too eager to please. Smarmy is the word. And yes all will end in tears. At any rate, nobody has taken up my offer of a hundred pounds wager.
Regards

[David]

This is Brown's attempt at a 'Palin Moment' but without the tight skirts (at least in public). It will end in disaster like all the other things Brown has done (financial prudence my Aunt Fanny). Lets have an election, please.

[Harlan Leyside]

Yet more contempt for whatever token democracy we have in the UK. An unelected PM appoints an unlected Eurocrat to a top Govt post. Has Mandy resigned his "commission"? Does he get his EU wages docked? (More likely he'll get a big payoff plus a pension to die for).
After 11 yrs in power, Labour has still kept in place that afront to democracy, the 2nd chamber, allowing the PM to elevate anyone he likes to Lordship status and govt to boot, all at the mug tax-payers' expense.
Let them all rot in hell, if Satan would have them.

[Gym Junky]

I feel like I am on the Titanic and Brown is pulling us all under with him.

[john smith Ireland]

Yes Gordon ,Just pull the pin out of this political grenade and all will be fine. Trust me Clunky, I am your best buddy,Tony!

[Martin]

For those of us who have been saying for the past 10 years that Brown has no moral compass and is just a nakedly ambitious, cowardly and incompetent chancer, here is the incontrovertible proof.

As the fable says, you're judged by the company you keep, and with Campbell (yes he's back) and Mandelson inside Brown's tent, everyone with even half a brain (that excludes Guardian columnists and readers) now knows for sure that Brown's politics are of the gutter variety.

[martinB]

Even a futile attempt at justifying the brown stuff's actions as a bipolar moment or dementia fails as this assumes that there either is or was another side to this squalid affair. The simple truth is that the institutionally corrupt nulabor cadre took over The Labour Party, and like any parasite, has killed its hosts. Re-assembling the nulabor architects and executioners of The Labour Party's demise will only hasten the inevitable decay and death, the putrescence of which poisons us all.
Politcal sticking plasters by sticky fingered politicans serve no-one.

[Nick G. (woodford)]

Here we go yet again (for the third time)political corruption at its best, or worst whichever way you look at it !

[Terence]

What are people moaning about?
Surely this is a terrific thing?
Something is almost certainly going to happen! Something that wont include that insufferable Tory leader moaning about G Brown and idolising Tony. Almost certainly a masterstroke for British entertainment if not British politics. Maybe now there will actually be a challenge to celeb dancing on the telebox! Brown is a genius!

[Alan, Bucks]

A worryingly unbalanced leader who still believes he can run the country using the Marxist tactics of his student days. Bring on the liars, the enforcers, the Berias and all will be well. At least he can rely on the support of the BBC until the next election.

[richard Burdon]

Never forget the root psychological cause of all the bile being heaped on Mandelson at the moment from the Tories and their press friends. His strategic and political skills helped condemn them to the wilderness for a generation, and their anxiety presents itself as indignation. Interesting that Mandleson is held in such high regard by civil servants, tells you something about his qualities as an administrator. I think Labour supporters will be pleased he is back fighting for us.

[Jim Barrie]

I would rather have labour handle the financial problems of the UK that the Conservitives who have no idea what to do. Peter Mandelson may not be hughly popular but he is a very bright so in my book his input is welcome and much needed.

[Glenn]

How does that muppet keep getting highly paid jobs? The insult is..we have to PAY him!

[graham seed]

Kicked out of government twice. Given a cushy £12k/month [+ expenses] job in Europe until things die down and until joe-public hopefully forget, and then brought back in.

Well, us public don't forget and have longer attention spans than "they" give us credit.

Proof if needed how all that talk by the pigs running the farm about cleaning up their act and removing sleaze was just the usual government hot air.

[John DeVries]

Yes, we can all laugh at the ludicrous situation where Brown turns to Mendalson for help but its our country and our people who once again are going to have to bear the brunt of a resurected Mendelson and a born again Brown.

This really is too much. Are there no patriots left in the United Kingdom?

Johnti

[slyironhead]

e r pemberton has the analogy bang on.The BNP call Broon and his mad circus 'ZanuLabour' .Broon is now waving his clunking fist around in pathetic ineptitude and risks destroying forever the house of cards that
'juscallmetonyiminit4themula' created for him. I can visualise Mandy issuing £1 trillion notes in the next couple of weeks in an attempt to convince us poor saps that the country has never been so well off. The Numnut Copper out ; the mortgage fraudster and the caravanning housewife back in . When will it end ? They're like bindweed.