Under pressure?
Peter Hoskin 3:43pm
Prepare for the next round of one of Westminster's favourite parlour games of the past few months: "Will Alistair Darling get the sack?" After all, our Chancellor's hardly excelled himself over the past few days -- his statement to the Commons yesterday was less-than-inspiring and did nothing to reassure the markets, whilst his behind-the-scenes work seems to amount to little more than dithering -- and the thinking is that Gordon Brown will be looking for scapegoats should anything undermine his "serious people for serious times" mantra. So who's waiting in the wings? Three Line Whip's Iain Martin highlighted one potential candidate earlier, by asking: "Could Peter Mandelson be Chancellor of the Exchequer by Christmas?" Certainly, stranger things have happened. Mandelson's recent return to Government among them...
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Alfred T Mahan
October 7th, 2008 3:50pm Report this commentMcBroon won't be able to resist making a Balls up.
Probably Ed not the fragrant Yvette.
Drew
October 7th, 2008 4:02pm Report this commentIs M'Lord Mandy already leaking from his sick-bed, perhaps to a friendly BBC Business Editor?
Certainly, someone is deftly sabotaging the Bank Rescue.
David
October 7th, 2008 4:06pm Report this commentBrown firing Darling for his inability to cope with this crisis is a bit like setting yourself on fire and then blaming the Fire Brigade because your hair burned off.
bergen
October 7th, 2008 4:09pm Report this commentIn theory even the Prime Minister can sit in the Lords but the Chancellor must sit in the Commons.
I cannot see them risking a by-election anywhere to bring Mandelson back in.If it was lost then the government would be a laughing stock.
richardj
October 7th, 2008 4:11pm Report this commentBrown and Darling - Laurel and Hardy?
Mandy Watcher
October 7th, 2008 4:15pm Report this commentSurely he's already calling the tune. Brown is his puppet, and Darling is no more than a puppet's puppet, with which he can toy as he wants.
I imagine it would suit him better to keep things as they are, for the moment, having a bigger fish to fry...
R Kaye
October 7th, 2008 4:15pm Report this commentCould Peter Mandelson be Chancellor of the Exchequer by Christmas?
Short answer: no. It would be impossible to be Chancellor in a House of Lords that under the Parliament Act does not deal with financial matters.
Ian W
October 7th, 2008 4:23pm Report this commentI would prefer to have an elected politician as chancellor, we seem to have acquired a lot of "enobled" ministers in the last reshuffle. Perhaps Mandelson should stand for Glenrothes? Not holding my breath.
Michael Huntsman
October 7th, 2008 4:29pm Report this commentPolitically impossible if this particular piece of vermin is by then in The House of Lords
Austin Barry
October 7th, 2008 4:32pm Report this commentYes, I suspect that Darling will be glumly chewing on bamboo shoots in a panda sanctuary before year-end. To replace him? Step forward Ed Balls to receive his quid pro quo for not objecting too much at the return of Mandelson.
TrevorsDen
October 7th, 2008 4:34pm Report this comment1. --- Balls won't be happy if its Mandy.
2. --- Could Brown interfer to the same degree if Mandy get the job?
And the piece of resistance ...
3. --- Could we have a Chancellor of the exchequer in the Lords?
Mind you - If Mandy were to get it and stay in the Lords then by heavens Browns explanation would be a real doozer.
TrevorsDen
October 7th, 2008 4:43pm Report this commentBrown is alleged to be favoured by the electorate to manage the economy - not sure how that can be sustained following todays shambles.
But really, would you trust an arsonist with a box of matches?
What is even more incredible is that the Banks are to enter crisis talks with the PM the Chancellor (with no doubt the Prince of Darkness sitting in the back) - by CONFERENCE CALL !!
Can you believe it?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3152997/Bank-chiefs-to-hold-crisis-conference-call-with-Government.html
Oh look - I just saw a giant rabbit wearing a hat.
strapworld
October 7th, 2008 4:48pm Report this commentWhat is the constitutional position of having the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Lords?
Who would present the Budget to the Commons - The First Lord of the Treasury?
Strange times.
I reckon David Blunkett is the man. at least he will not be able to see all the red figures in the books!
Dirty Euro
October 7th, 2008 4:50pm Report this commentI doubt it. Darling has just go tough economic times to deal with. I cannot see him going soon. If he was going to go he would have gone in the reshuffle. Maybe we might get a deputy
David
October 7th, 2008 4:51pm Report this commentI think it would be very difficult to justify a Chancellor in the Lords at such a time.
Dirty Euro
October 7th, 2008 5:31pm Report this commentThe banks are blaming Darling. That is like a serial killer blaming home secretery.
William Norton
October 8th, 2008 10:27am Report this commentKen Dodd's free, how about him?
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