Mayor Mandelson?
Fraser Nelson 10:21am
When Mandelson said in his Spectator interview that he plans another 15 to 20 years in politics, what could he have meant? Now that his European career is over, there is only one decent post coming up for a Labour figure in the first half of the next decade – and I float the latest theory in my News of the World column today: that Mandy might stand as Mayor of London in 2012.
A bizarre notion, I grant you, but no less bizarre than his CV to date – and Ken Livingstone is certainly taking the prospect seriously. Whoever the Labour candidate, they have a pretty good chance given that, by 2012, Cameron should be knee-deep in cuts and being very unpopular if he’s doing his job properly. Saying ‘vote Tory’ in London in 2012 will be no sure way to be elected.
Now, I gather that Boris is highly unlikely to stand for a second term: he has his eyes on the No.10 prize and would need to get back into Parliament somehow. The Tories had enough trouble finding a Mayoral candidate in 2008 when they had a great chance to win: who would they find in 2012, if not Boris? That would make the Labour Mayor nomination even more sought after.
Mandelson will doubtless have a dozen different plans for 2012 (and beyond), but being saluted by Olympic athletes in the London games would be just his cup of tea. And he has already been identified by Red Ken as the No.1 threat for the nomination. All Ken is doing nowadays is planning a 2012 comeback.
All this sounds weird, but while the Tories are obsessing about the next election, Labour is planning for the fight to come after their defeat (starting with the leadership). It will all get weirder and weirder.
P.S. Farmers Weekly followed up Mandy’s comments that he’d like to be a farmer, asking if he’d like to visit. They were told to get back in touch “in a few months’ time” - presumably when he’ll have a lot more time on his hands.
Previous
Dave B
December 20th, 2009 10:52am Report this commentI suspect Mr Mandelson would prefer a perch that wasn't guarded by the electorate.
Patrick
December 20th, 2009 11:28am Report this commentI will vote for Mandy. But then I always vote for those forced to resign not once but twice.
Dear Lord save us please from these self-important MSM boosted champagne socialists.
The Laughing Cavalier
December 20th, 2009 11:41am Report this commentAn unlikely story. There is no London equivalent to Gracie mansion, the salary is insufficiently plutocratic.
Beau Belles
December 20th, 2009 11:42am Report this commentEvery Cockney sparrer loves a chancer - Gawd bless yer, guvnor!
Tankus
December 20th, 2009 11:45am Report this commentHe ain't half hunting around for a political opportunity to keep him in his accustomed lifestyle , after gordon gives labour the "victory" it deserves under his magnificent stewardship.
Its appearing a bit desperate.
DavidDP
December 20th, 2009 12:11pm Report this commentI'd prefer him to Ken.....
teledu
December 20th, 2009 12:29pm Report this commentHe gives hope and inspiration to all those incapable of filling in a Mortgage Application form correctly.
Ross
December 20th, 2009 12:33pm Report this commentSurely he should stand as mayor of Hartlepool against the monkey.
Murgatroyd
December 20th, 2009 12:47pm Report this commentA chump for London Mayor? Probably better than the chimp currently in place.
Yow Min Lye
December 20th, 2009 1:07pm Report this commentAny vacancies going as UN Secretary-General?
Verity
December 20th, 2009 1:43pm Report this commentTeledu - that gave me the first laugh of the day.
Granny's Knickers
December 20th, 2009 1:51pm Report this commentMr Yow - That post always goes to a Third Worlder ... I suspect they're working up the nerve to put a Muslim in.
2trueblue
December 20th, 2009 1:55pm Report this commentOh lawd, oh lawd what ever next?
TrevorsDen
December 20th, 2009 2:02pm Report this commentPerhaps he could stand permanently on the 4th plinth.
I would happily feed the pigeons.
Jean Monnet
December 20th, 2009 3:21pm Report this comment"Now that his European career is over."
Commissioners never stop working for the EU. Their pensions depend on their doing so.
Jean Monnet
December 20th, 2009 3:22pm Report this comment"Now that his European career is over."
Commissioners never stop working for the EU. Their pensions depend on their doing so.
TGF UKIP
December 20th, 2009 3:48pm Report this commentYou lot get the mayors you so richly deserve for actually choosing to live in that dreadful, alien, third world hellhole.
Just keep him down there and away from England and that will suit the rest of us just fine.
Naomi Muse
December 20th, 2009 4:29pm Report this commentThought Mandy was going to polish up his spangles for next year's Strictly, and start negotiating his BBC contract now...
Geoff
December 20th, 2009 4:36pm Report this commentI would happily starve the lions for the post-plinth party.
In2minds
December 20th, 2009 5:18pm Report this commentFrom the NoW - “Ken Livingstone fancies his chances for a 2012 comeback. And he's telling friends he believes Mandy is his No1 threat”.
So nasal man is not so stupid after all. Despite pleas from Tony Blair Nulabour never did get to love Peter Mandelson. So by warning all who will listening to support him or have Mandelson for Mayor Livingstone has played his trump card.
bergen
December 20th, 2009 5:48pm Report this commentNever forget that Mandy is proud of being the grandson of Herbert Morrison-Mr London-the powerhouse of the prewar London County Council.It's a job he'd love if Labour are otherwise in opposition(and I suspect he would be infinitely more successful than Livingstone revisited).
Snowman
December 20th, 2009 5:51pm Report this commentWhat’ so weird about a member of the farming community with connections to the Russian oligarchs and col Gaddafi running London? Sounds good to me.
Noa Zrk
December 20th, 2009 6:24pm Report this commentI suspect he'll end up as one of Cameron's chums, advising him how to spin at 78 rpm or above. After all, as Alan Duncan's political career shows, an unpopular expenses claim or so doesn't preclude career stability.
Trevorsden - the fourth plinth? Excellent! But I would prefer the Forth Bridge.
Andrew
December 20th, 2009 7:41pm Report this commentYes, all good fun.
However, two (serious) points worth noting:
i) in the late 1990s Livingstone beat Mandelson for election to the Labour NEC, which pretty much galvanised New Labour resolve to oppose Livingstone's mayoral ambitions in 2000;
ii) Mandelson is a facsimile to Herbert Morrison's political CV, hence Minister for the Dome (Festival of Britain redux), ambitions to be Foreign Sec as yet unfulfilled etc. Morrison was also the longest serving Leader of London County Council.
cityboozer
December 20th, 2009 9:21pm Report this commentIsn't it the case that former EU commissioners continue to draw their salary (as "pension") indefinitely, subject to their continuing to proselytise for the cause?
It isn't massive, but it is lightly taxed at source (so not a button for the UK treasury) and obviously he isn't worried about leaving a large estate for his children, so really anything else he wants to line up is just for reasons of being a self important busybody socialist.
Herbert Thornton
December 21st, 2009 4:38pm Report this commentI was fascinated to read that he'd like to be a farmer. In his case of course it would naturally include the status of being one of the Landed Gentry.
I think he would take to it like a duck to water. It is not at all far-fetched to imagine him riding to hounds in Hunting Pink. It would be a most fitting colour too.
Unemployed former Labour M.P.s could follow on foot. Some of them of course might try to obstruct him and if he used his riding crop on them the sight would bring tears of nostalgia and gratitude to the eyes of millions.
Tilak
December 21st, 2009 6:43pm Report this commentGod help London and Britain! The only man who can make Gordon Brown seem an improvement. These morally bankrupt politicians who gave the notion of incompetence a bad name need to be permanently erased. But those waiting in the wings, with their crass opportunism sans principle or grasp of the essentials, echo NuLabour circa the late 1990s. It will all end in tears, but without a British nuclear deterrent (for which everything else has been cast to the winds)and Franco-German primacy in Europe in open dalliance with Russia -oh dear!
Back to top