Is fear of Mandelson holding Labour back on tuition fees?

Patrick Wintour has a fascinating piece in The Guardian on Labour’s dilemma on tuition fees. Particularly striking is that Ed Balls is deeply concerned about how Peter Mandelson might react to any new policy. Wintour writes:

‘Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, also knows there are serious figures in the party, including the former business secretary Lord Mandelson, who will voice their concerns if a half-baked policy emerges that might damage the status of UK’s world-class universities. Mandelson made a technical criticism of the plans for a mansion tax, but supported the concept of a wealth tax. He will be less restrained if he thinks the revised tuition fees policy damages the skills base of the UK economy.’

Now, all parties have their internal coalitions to manage. But this story highlights the problem facing Labour. On the one hand, they need to go radical to enthuse their base and to win back those voters who are flirting with the Greens. On the other, they need to keep on board those ‘Blairites’ who fear that Labour is already too left wing to win. Getting close to squaring this circle will be one of the big challenges of the Miliband manifesto.