Mandelson offered top Europe post

[muriel_volestrangler]

Since this is of marginal interest to most of DU, and his name has already come up in this forum, it seems worth posting here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3918963.stm

Tony Blair has nominated long-time ally Peter Mandelson as Britain's next European commissioner.

The announcement was made after Mr Blair spoke to new European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso on Friday morning.
...
He has a majority of 14,500 in Hartlepool, but after losing Leicester South to the Liberal Democrats and nearly losing Birmingham Hodge Hill in by-elections last week, the outcome will not be taken for granted by Labour.

Letting him back in the cabinet (and somehow, with Blair, 'let' does seem the right verb) would have been absurd - like crediting us with a memory span of about 2 years, after which the government could do anything it likes. I think being based in Brussels will eventually limit his influence on British politics - and his power in the EU may not be so much wither, it being a different environment. Which is a Good Thing, on balance.

[slipperduke]

1. Marvelous stuff

Third time lucky for the Prince of Darkness, then.

Who knows, maybe this time he'll get more than 18 months in before lying/cheating/stealing/taking bribes.

Anyone else remember Blair swearing that he'd be tough on scandal and that his government would, "whiter than white?"

[D-Notice]

3. Lying/cheating/stealing/taking bribes.

Guess this means he'll be a perfect fit for an EU Commissioner!

[Stockholm]

2. He´s baaaack!

I don´t our US democratic friends know why "Peter" has been on sabbatical.

I would hate to see him fouling up the Commission just like he did Labour. He really is King Midas reversed.

[non sociopath skin]

4. Up here in the North East we're glad we're getting rid of him....

... he's been a thorn in the side ever since he came a' carpet-baggin' up to Hartlepool.

Course, problem is what will happen at the by-election. Rumours abound. Talk of the Tory and Lib standing down to give the Monkey Mayor a free run a la Martin Bell, also that dusky, attractive Robert Kilroy-Silk may wish to supplement his Strasbourg Stipend with a Teesside Trousercheque.

We should be so lucky. Hope there's a human (preferably a leftish one) standing too.

The Skin

[D-Notice]

5. Monkey'd be better than Mandy!

[non sociopath skin]

6. Unfortunately, this monkey turned out to be a Tory in a monkey suit!

The Skin