Mandelson's return: anything to do with Euro elections?

Peter Kenyon Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 02:21:40 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

I have no inside information, but listening to commentary I have yet to hear any reference to the European Parliamentary elections next year in the context of Peter Mandelson's return to Cabinet.

Knee-jerk reactions from the left of the Party are not helpful. We have to retain the confidence of business if we are to get the economy growing again.




Mandelson is widely respected for his role as Business Secretary previously and in Brussels as European Commissioner/vice-President for Trade.

Labour's European policy has been sidelined for too long. I'm hoping that this move heralds the start of a rebuilding of relations. Party members will welcome that if it means of bolstering social safeguards, anxiously sought by the trade unions. This may be counter-intuitive given there is no love lost between Mandy and the brothers and sisters. But the Party needs to help persuade the voting public that membership of the EU offers a genuine alternative to the little Englanders in the Conservative Party.

Rather than fearing a thumping in the Euro-elections in June next year, we need to turn it into an opportunity for an interim refresher of Labour's mandate to govern, with the economy steadied, increased investment in health and education, and a further redistribution of income to low and middle income families consolidating the Party's commitment to the fairness agenda.

On a personal note the creation of an Energy and Climate Change department with Ed Miliband in charge is very good news. Labour needs to mend its fences with the green movement, which extends far beyond the Green Party into Labour's core vote, and middle England. This could be a belated step in the right direction.



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Mandelson's return: anything to do with Euro elections? | 56 comments (56 topical)

Good idea (#1)

by ComradeNorton on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 03:54:19 PM GMT

We have Mandleson back because he is a very effective communicator.  You only have to see his "interview" before entering number 10 to see why he is back.

Everyone loves a comeback kid as well.


Re: Good idea (#3)

by snowflake5 on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 03:56:49 PM GMT

Also, he is now the senior Blairite in the cabinet, not Miliband. There will be no more coup attempts now that Mandy is back.


[ Parent ]

Re: Good idea (#20)

by otware on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:34:42 AM GMT

Hopefully Mandy will use his brute Blairite super-powers to kill evil Milly and his deluded belief that he will one day lead the Labour Party (when pigs fly). I don't have much hope though. It seems more likely that Mandy will do some dodgy financial deal yet again and screw up everything - only now he is permanently part of the legislature, which was a poor move by Brown because the git can't be silenced if he f*cks up yet again.


[ Parent ]

Re: Good idea (#13)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:53:40 PM GMT

I loved the bit in a Guardian article which compared it to Churchill's comeback as Lord of the Admiralty:

Send the word out across the seas to the fleets: MANDY IS BACK!


[ Parent ]

Good idea (#2)

by ComradeNorton on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 03:54:19 PM GMT

We have Mandleson back because he is a very effective communicator.  You only have to see his "interview" before entering number 10 to see why he is back.

Everyone loves a comeback kid as well.


Re: Mandy's return: ? (#4)

by Will Charlton on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 04:10:26 PM GMT

He is hated by the general public at large. A really stupid, stupid move by Brown.


Re: Mandy's return: ? (#5)

by snowflake5 on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 04:28:38 PM GMT

And thus a good lightning rod? All governments need one. Blair had Prescott to take the heat (and Cherie to take the personal animosity).

I like Mandelson. His finest moment was telling off the French for their farm subsidies while still remaining pro-European. A rare skill!


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandy's return: ? (#12)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:51:22 PM GMT

Exactly. He was a crusader against protectionism and economic nationalism and for that he gets a thumbs up from me!


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandy's return: ? (#11)

by grimupnorth on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:50:10 PM GMT

Seconded. A hideous and astonishing mistake by Brown., whose "knee-jerk" Peter  is  always to move   to the right when he is in trouble. God knpows why. The public  loathe Mandelson  and the Labour Party doesn't think much of him either


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandy's return: ? (#14)

by lastword on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 06:45:23 PM GMT

"He is hated by the general public at large".

That's bollocks.  Most non-political anoraks wouldn't have an opinion on him either way.  It's the Westminster Village that doesn't like Mandy.  I'm delighted he's back.  Some proper political communication under Brown at last.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandy's return: ? (#16)

by doctordunc on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 07:30:08 PM GMT

This is actually nonsense.  He's quite skilled at organising communication (though in a way that's always managed to get on my wick) but it's always been an irony that he is a particularly BAD communicator himself.  And - despite all the 'King of Spin' stuff - he's gaffe-prone and a loose canon.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandy's return: ? (#21)

by otware on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:42:08 AM GMT

I give him months before he tries some bloody stupid stunt that backfires on everybody. Only this time he can't be sent to Brussels, he'll be a permanent fixture in the Lords ready to stick the knife in for the next 25 years. Bad move by Brown. He must be scared of Miliband.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandy's return: ? (#28)

by doctordunc on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 11:53:48 AM GMT

I half expected to wake up to headlines saying he'd had to resign already!


[ Parent ]

return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#6)

by oratorhunt on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 04:47:35 PM GMT

Nonsense Peter - you can't polish a turd.  Mandelson has helped to sour the general esteem in which the EU is held by the British people.  He typified its arrogance, its remoteness and its concern for putting profits before people.  As Sarkozy observed he almost single handedly wrecked Lisbon.  He failed to deliver the goods in the Doha round.  And having him front our Euro campaign is a guaranteed path to disaster. 


Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#7)

by Stuart King on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:18:04 PM GMT

I am very encouraged by the reshuffle. Bringing back Mandelson is an excellent move - he is one of the best political communicators of our time and given the experience of the past year and the challenges ahead, his return to the front line of British politics will be good for our Labour Government.


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#22)

by otware on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:45:54 AM GMT

My diagnosis is that there won't be a 'Labour' government for much longer with the twat obnoxious eurocrat Mandy back in the driving seat.


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#25)

by Floating voter on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 10:40:24 AM GMT

" obnoxious eurocrat Mandy"

I take it you don't like him? (I wish there was a "twised malicious grin" smiley I could put after that...


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#30)

by snowflake5 on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 02:08:48 PM GMT

Come now. It will always remain a "labour" government. Brown has taken care to balance the cabinet - he brought in Jon Trickett of Compass into government too. I think this is the first time since the first cabinet of 1997 that all wings of the party are represented. A good thing methinks.


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#31)

by doctordunc on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 02:18:15 PM GMT

Err... Hello?  How's my wing represented?


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#33)

by NorthernMonkey on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 02:25:09 PM GMT

Well I think your candidate of choice kind of blew it when he went round all the TV studios yesterday bad mouthing the move.

He won't win many friends doing that.


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#34)

by doctordunc on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 02:27:09 PM GMT

I don't know.

I haven't met anybody (real people as opposed to cyber people on Labourhome) who agrees with the move yet.

I've generally encountered shock, horror or amusement (the first two from Labour supporters, the last from our opponents).


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#36)

by otware on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:22:37 PM GMT

All wings of the party are not represented. And what job has Trickett been given?


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#37)

by snowflake5 on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:34:35 PM GMT

Trickett is PPS to Gordon Brown - so he has direct access to the Prime Minister's ear on a daily basis. Has anyone from Compass ever got so close to power before?


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#41)

by doctordunc on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 05:12:47 PM GMT

I would have thought so.  They're all just slightly Browned-off New Labourites anyway, aren't they?


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#42)

by otware on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 05:39:27 PM GMT

Well my understanding is that he pissed off the actual members of Compass over 42 day detention.


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#43)

by snowflake5 on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 05:48:00 PM GMT

But surely Compass has more policies than objection to 42 days? Or are all the other policies irrelevant and not worth bring to the PM's ear?


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#44)

by otware on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 02:05:51 PM GMT

No I didn't say that. My point was just that he seems to have fallen out with Compass.


[ Parent ]

Re: return: anything to do with Euro elections? (#8)

by snowflake5 on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:21:23 PM GMT

The Doha failure waqs nothing to do with Mandelson. According to the FT, it was down to the USA, India and China:

"Divisions between the US, India and China about access to the agricultural markets of the developing world could not be overcome and the talks ground to a halt, scuppering efforts by Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organisation, to broker a compromise."

Strangely the EU had been the most open about opening up agriculture...


[ Parent ]

Mandy's return: Good for Brown, bad for Europe? (#9)

by DevonChap on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:21:43 PM GMT

As I understood it Peter's strength was his closeness to Blair so he could advise from the centre. I can't believe Brown has forgiven him enough to bring him into his inner circle. So you have all the downside of Mandelson being disliked without his sage council being listened to.

This smacks of another one of Brown's ploys to survive for a week, rather than a long term sensible decision.

It does weaken our position in Europe. As the UK man on the European Commission he was an outstanding commissioner. The non-entity Gordon seems to be preparing to send does show how low the EU is in his estimation. A pity since despite the current British Euro scepticism it is vital for our future. Without Mandy French protectionism will advance in the EU.


Re: Mandy's return: (#10)

by jkitleft on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:24:38 PM GMT

It is an olive branch to the Blairites, and a politically wise move. I don't particuarly like him as much as his grandfather, but it shows Brown as a forgiving figure, who can get past tribal differences.


Re: Mandy's return: (#23)

by otware on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:47:57 AM GMT

He makes his grandfather look like Karl Marx himself, the pillock.


[ Parent ]

Good move (#15)

by ComradeNorton on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 07:28:01 PM GMT

Brown has delivered the conference speech of his life to save his job, looked very steady on the economy and now he has very wisely brought back Margaret Beckett and Peter Mandleson to make the front bench look like it has "a few more grey hairs".

I am afraid that those who have been gunning for Brown on this site are going to have to wait a few more weeks for his head at least ;)

David Miliband, pah who is he compared to Mandy!


Re: Good move (#18)

by LabourMatters on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 08:36:06 PM GMT

If you go back and read the comments of the rebels you'll see that they had very specific concerns. Gordon appears to have taken note (or already realised that the criticism was valid) with his changes (McBride and Carter actually may be the most important changes for his fortunes). Beckett coming in also adds to the sense that a good communicator is needed.

There are still concerns, for my part on fuel poverty, but what is being done on the economy also has the potential to get us out of the seemingly inevitable recession more quickly than Cameron's psedo Thatcherism.

The by-election is next, and Gordon here too seems to be taking criticism on board if reports that he plans to campaign there are true.

One of the rebels came out today and said something along the lines of "this is what we wanted all along". Still, today can't be a good day for those who quit the Gov. 


[ Parent ]

Mandy's back ! Grateful nation rejoices. (#17)

by howard on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 08:14:09 PM GMT

I just spoke to a friend who works at the DBERR.

She said the whole place was buzzing with excitement with Mandelson's return. Her department had all gone downstairs to welcome him and found most of the building crowded into the ground floor breaking out into applause. She said she'd never seen anything like it.

DBERR thinks its time has come and that Mandy will sort them out - the Civil Servants who remember him from his 6 month stint as DTI Secretary say he was the best Labour minister they ever worked for.


Re: Mandy's return: Euro elections? (#19)

by David Phillips on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 10:19:13 PM GMT

Bringing Peter Mandelson, with his trade experience as European Commissioner, back into government is a very considered and measured choice at such a challenging time.
 
The Government has to steer a steady course through uniquely difficult economic times, and this move brings into further relief the weakness of the Opposition front bench.

As to the question, I think it will be of immense value to our party to have someone who has led at the heart of Europe to be on the bridge of the ship as we approach the European election test.

With these stormy seas ahead for the whole world economy, do we in Britain want the "little Englander, isolationist" tendenceies of the Tories and UKIP or the stability and security of the EU harbour wall?

Labour will now be the "Anchor of Stability"  for the ship of state in this storm, while there Tories offer a leaking boat, adrift without a compass and shipping water.


Re: Mandy's return: Euro elections? (#24)

by madasafish on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 07:05:32 AM GMT

Labour will now be the "Anchor of Stability"  for the ship of state in this storm, while there Tories offer a leaking boat, adrift without a compass and shipping water.



Asthe economy sinks under the waves, and unemployment rises  and house sales dive, the above the best bad joke for months.


May I suggest you re-enter the real world and take a cold look at economic statistics...


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#26)

by NB on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 11:17:37 AM GMT

What concerns me most about this as that, at this very critical time in the world economy, Britain is now completely without influence in the EU. Mandy may not have been much liked by his fellow-commissioners but at least he was respected and as a pretty senior Commissioner he had some clout. 

By removing him from a really important job in the EU and putting him in a non-job in the Cabinet, replacing him with someone really obscure without any clout or track record*, Gordon shows a staggering disregard for the importance of the EU.

 * But she is Mrs Peter Kellner - so perhaps it's a thank-you for Gordon ??


Re: Mandelson's return (#32)

by snowflake5 on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 02:21:34 PM GMT

Am loving these po-faced expressions of concern about the EU from Tories.

You seem to misunderstand the structures and nature of the EU. The EU Trade Commissioner's job was to enforce trade treaties and negotiate on the EU's behalf on new trade deals, most notably Doha. But Doha is dead - it was killed off by the Americans, Chinese and Indians, not the EU. There arn't any other trade deals in the pipeline. If Brown had pulled Mandelson in the middle of the Doha negotiations, you might have a point, but the negotiations are over.

Regarding EU response to the global crisis - this will in the main be resolved in the Council of Ministers, which consists of the heads of member states, not the Commission, as the Council is the decision-making body of the EU, and anything new will have to be authorised unanimously by them. Mandelson in the UK helps us, as he has witnessed all the Council negotiations as a neutral commissioner, and can now give partisan advice now he is in the UK government.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#35)

by voreas06 on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 03:09:27 PM GMT

Snowflake, People on PB.com are arguing over whether you are male or female.

First of all it must be nice to be missed if only in an ironic way and secondly can you provide an answer.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#39)

by snowflake5 on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:36:58 PM GMT

??? I'm a woman. (Puzzled at your question - do men call themselves snowflake and have pretty pictures of snowflakes all over their blog?)


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#48)

by voreas06 on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:33:24 PM GMT

Thanks Snowflake. To answer your question I wouldn't of thought so but in these PC times that you enjoy I wouldn't wish to prejudge and am surprised at your gender stereotyping, surely not on message.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#38)

by NB on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:36:32 PM GMT

This is a hilarious misunderstanding of how the EU works. Although the formal power is with the Council of Ministers all they can really do is approve and haggle round the edges on what the Commission proposes.  Commission proposals are also done by haggling between the Commissioners.  Without a Commissioner of any substance or portfolio we have zero influence on this.

The idea that the death of Doha (which was nothing like as simple as you suppose) means that there are no serious issues on trade in the EU is also sadly misconceived. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#40)

by snowflake5 on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:40:58 PM GMT

Most of the "haggling" as you put it takes place between member states in the Council.

And since when were Tories so concerned about the functioning of the EU? Why Cameron refuses to meet up with Merkel and Sarkozy within the formal European People's Party group meetings that take place before every EU Council of Ministers summit to discuss strategy. He prefers to deal with fringe parties that control no government and have no influence.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#45)

by DevonChap on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 04:17:15 PM GMT

It's not so much the functioning of the EU as Britian's influence in it. It is well known that Commissioners represent their countries' interests as well as doing their official jobs. Gordon's dislike of EU meetings was well known as Chancellor, and he has shown little interest as PM. Sending some non-enitity to Brussells instead of big hitters like Patten, Kinnock and Mandelson will reduce our influence in the Commission.

We face a choice at the moment between the Tories who want to reduce our role in Europe and Labour which will let our relationship wither on the vine. Nothing positive between them, though at least the Conservatives care about the issue.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#49)

by snowflake5 on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 03:53:41 AM GMT

We face a choice at the moment between the Tories who want to reduce our role in Europe and Labour which will let our relationship wither on the vine. Nothing positive between them, though at least the Conservatives care about the issue.

?? Wither on the vine? With the Labour cabinet more pro-European than it was just a few months ago? Labour has god relations with all the main governmentss within the EU, plus we belong to the Socialist grouping, which is about so much more than the European parliament, and we make sure we attend all the pre-summit strategy meetings. 

The Conservatives by contrast have come out of the EPP, Cameron has not even met Merkel, the most powerful head of state in the EU (because she is shunning him due to the EPP issue). Instead Conservatives consort with dubious fringe parties that have no power, no influence and control no government. And in the Council of Europe Conservatives sit with Putin's United Russia Party. And you claim that Conservatives "care more about the issue"? LOL Cameron's actions are of a novice who can't forsee the consequences of his actions.

As for this credit crisis - it's so serious, it will not be decided in the Commission, it will be decided by the heads of the member states. That's where the action is.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#52)

by DevonChap on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 08:14:23 AM GMT

Oh yes, the heads of state meeting, like the one on Saturday which the Germans go back on on Sunday? Great success those are.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#53)

by snowflake5 on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 01:26:24 PM GMT

I agree that the Germans have cocked up by panicking. But we don't know the full extent of the problem they are facing.

However, you are simply wrong if you think this crisis can be solved by the Commission rather than the Heads of State. The Commission only has power to act according to existing Treaties - and they have already acted as far as they can within this remit,  - the European Investment Bank has released £12bn to help. It's a piddly amount, but they can't really release more, because not much money is held at EU level - it's all held by member states. Therefore any solution will have to be thrashed out by member states in an emergency treaty.

For those crying out "Why isn't the Commission Acting" - it's because for years the member states have deliberately sought to keep power in the Council of Ministers (and this has been backed by popular support for not ceding any power to the Commission). Essentially the Commission is a glorified civil service, and they can't act because they haven't the authority to do so.

I am surprised and a little amused that people like you are suddenly bigging up the Commission as the answer to all ills now.... 


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#56)

by DevonChap on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:43:16 PM GMT

I'm not saying the Commission is the answer to the current economic ills. You are right that major changes to policy come from the council of Ministers (not just the 5 big powers that Brown seems to want).

What I am saying is that the Commission is important for HOW these policies are implemented. Without a strong British voice the chances are these will be more protectionist and bureaucratic than they would otherwise be. If Mandelson was being replaced by a big hitter then it would be fine but the names suggested so far are non-entities and the rest of the Commission knows that, so they will have little clout. For goodness sake Hoon would be better!


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#50)

by snowflake5 on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 03:55:52 AM GMT

P.S. Commissioners are not supposed to lobby for their own country's interests at all. They are supposed to be completely neutral. All nationalistic jostling for position is meant to take place in the Council of Ministers.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#51)

by DevonChap on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 08:13:11 AM GMT

So that would by why the smaller countries won't accept not having a Commissioner then? Commissioners are supposed to be neutral, but they DO also represent their countries interests too. I'm surprised you seem so naive about this.
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10171795
Having good relations with European governments does not immediately transfer into making the EU work. Brown seems more interested in only talking to the governments of the large economies of Europe (as with this weekend’s economic summit) rather than working through the EU structures that involve all 27 members. He sees it like the UN or G8 but it isn’t just a matter of summits. Getting the EU to work for our interests requires getting involved in the bureaucracy.
The government as a whole shows little priority for the EU. This is shown in the decline of the British contribution to the EU civil service. Since 1991 the UK civil service has had the European fast stream. This civil-service career track trained high-flyers in languages and EU ways, rotated them through Brussels, and prepared them for the European institutions' exams if they chose to leave Britain and become proper Eurocrats. The fast stream once recruited 30 high-flyers a year. 2007 it took in three, and it is now suspended, pending abolition.
The problem is that Whitehall departments actively discourage their brightest and best from putting in time in Brussels, disdaining the skills they might pick up there. British ministers see the EU as an inconvenience
In the latest EU  civil service recruitment round, just 2% of applicants were British. The same holds for the commission's internship programme, a stepping-stone for all manner of EU-related jobs. Five years ago, 262 British graduates applied for internships. Only 100 did so in the 2007 (there were 483 applicants from France and 890 from Italy). At the College of Europe, a postgraduate institute and nursery for top Eurocrats, a mere 22 out of 412 students are British.
Remember the civil service draft legislation and effect their implementation. Having a more British ethos mean they are slower to regulate and keener on enlargement. The more we ignore the EU the less it does what we want.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#54)

by snowflake5 on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 01:44:30 PM GMT

I agree that Britain should contribute more to the Brussels bureaucracy. But the lack of applicants is not down to the Labour government. Nobody in the Labour government or Labour party has said "don't go". The Labour government is pro-European. They believe that our future depends on remaining in the EU. It's quite untrue that they see Europe as an inconvenience.

The problem with recruits for Brussels is more down to an entrenched culture within Whitehall, and it's difficult for any political person to change it as our civil service is resistant to political inteference. The anti-EU ethos in Whitehall reflects that of the establishment press as a whole. 

Have you ever tried to defend the EU or suggest people work there? I have and have received a stream of abuse. I have even tried to get British graduates to take up positions in German universities - the germans now conduct many degrees in English (especially in the sciences) to attract bright foreign students, and they are willing to accept British students free of charge, so a tremendous opportunity to travel, get an education and save on tuition fees, plus if you are doing engineering a chance perhaps to be recruited by one of the great German engineering firms - but I couldn't persuade anyone to go. I'm afraid our tabloid obsession with WW2 is to blame.

I agree that Blair should have done more to counter this anti-EU feeling that was pervading everything, especially in his first term. But he didn't, and then sacrificed the EU in 2003 for the sake of Iraq. 

However, the current government is one of the most pro-european in years, from Mandelson down to poor old Quentin Davies. I do think that of the three parties Labour remains the most pro-European (the LibDems have been rowing back fast from Europe to pander to popular prejudices, and the Tories are so hostile that they won't even perform courtesy meetings with their counterparts in Europe).


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return (#55)

by DevonChap on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:37:34 PM GMT

I notice that you don't mention Gordon Brown as one of the government's pro-Europeans. He does not like how it functions and that dislike sets the scene for the whole interaction between London and Brussels. He just lectured the EU on how they should be more like him as Chancellor and always intended to ensure that the 5 economic tests would prevent the UK joining the Euro. The governemnt could expect high fliers in the Civil service to spend time in Brussells, but instead those that do are viewed with suspicion. 


I agree that making the case for Europe is an up hill battle at the moment but this government has just given up. If they believe in it then they should be fighting for it. At present they just neglect it.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return: Euro elections? (#27)

by David Phillips on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 11:43:44 AM GMT

This global economic challenge could well be the defining moment which shows up the danger of an isolationist Tory policy towards Europe. The UK would be cast adrift like a cork in a mountainous sea with Cameron's lot at the helm.

Perhaps if Gordon asked the British people for an endorsement of his new approach to these uniquely challenging times, let's say next June, we will see what the electorate really want.

The Tories carping on about a referendum seems so irrelevant now. It's like a few passengers of a cruise liner complaining to the Captain about the temperature of the wine when the ship is trying to survive and reach port through a severe Force 11 gale!  


Re: Mandelson's return: Euro elections? (#29)

by NB on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 02:04:59 PM GMT

Er - What has this post to do with reality?? We're outside the Eurozone and Gordon has just removed any influence we have at the Commission.  If Gordon were serious about the EU and wanted their help, the last thing he would have done was to withdraw our representative there.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return: Euro elections? (#46)

by Little Tim McGuire on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:23:47 PM GMT

But I think  we can appoint another one though.


[ Parent ]

Re: Mandelson's return: Euro elections? (#47)

by Little Tim McGuire on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:30:33 PM GMT

But who? 

Ken Livingstone needs a job.

Boris Johnson ought to need a job.

George Osborne surely has sufficient knowledge, experience and gravitas.  (Collapses in helpless laughter.)


[ Parent ]

Mandelson's return: anything to do with Euro elections? | 56 comments (56 topical)