There’s plenty of noteworthy stuff in Rachel Sylvester’s column this morning – Hazel Blears getting the “hairdryer treatment” from Gordon Brown; Downing Street overruling Cabinet ministers who wanted to “resolve” the Gurkha issue; and confirmation that a “Blairite” could stand as a stalking horse candidate after the local elections – but nothing more so than this passage:
“The one to watch is Peter Mandelson. By bringing his former enemy back into the Cabinet last year Mr Brown locked in the modernisers and ensured his own survival. But if the Business Secretary were to turn on the Prime Minister (either in private or in public) no one could be more deadly. So far, there is no sign of that.
If, however, Mr Brown continues to ignore his advice, if he blocks his reforming plans for the Royal Mail, if he sidelines him in the run-up to the general election then the ‘sinister minister’ could be very dangerous indeed.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in