Les Miserables

The fate of Gordon Brown has, perhaps, taken on new interest to those of us in the once green and pleasant land. At least it makes a change from worrying where your savings have disappeared to. The return of Lord Mandy at least introduces into the cabinet someone less liked than Gordon. However, if Michael Howard could be described as something of the night then what description does that leave for Mandelson. The question posed in one leading Uk newspaper yesterday- How many times can someone be wrapped in chains and dropped into the depths of the River Volga without popping up again, hit the nail on the head. But whereas Rasputin was seen as a Holy man, can the same end of the spectrum be sought for Lord M. 

And the once canny Scot is acting more like Corporal Fraser (we're doomed) by inviting his worse best friend back into his inner sanctum. Not only will the only member of the cabinet strong enough to oust him be given a position in which to plot an assassination attempt but, not being a member of the House of Commons, Lord M will not have to face question time in the house. I have read that Mandelson has a reputation for being a back stabber, I don't know whether that is true, but the old saying goes that there is no smoke with out fire, and Mandelson has been fired more times than most. I can only imagine that Blunkett, who thought that it was a masterstoke, is sitting by the phone awaiting his recall this very minute.