Kevin Maguire’s post earlier today showed that some Brownites are not happy about the return of that arch-Blairite Mandelson. Benjamin Wegg-Proser’s demonstrates that some Blairities can’t resist the chance to goad the Brownites. This comment from Wegg-Prosser is not going to encourage détente between the camp followers of the two factions:
“Gordon Brown’s acolytes have held no-one in greater contempt than Peter, their reaction to this news, as with most things that they say to the press, is probably unprintable.
Whether he can turn things around for Gordon Brown is another matter. He certainly will not be able to do it single-handedly. But he will be able to bring a level of maturity and confidence that the government has been lacking since Tony Blair left office.” I suspect that the briefing wars have only just begun. The briefing won’t come from the principals but from those in their respective orbits who refuse to ignore the past. The bets are on for whether we’ll first see a piece laced with blind quotes about how either Mandelson is saving the government or how gormless Gordon won’t listen to sensible advice or one about how Mandelson is a destabilising influence, can’t help but plot etc. Brown and Mandelson might be prepared to ignore their past differences but their old henchmen don’t seem inclined to.
Hat tip: Alex Singleton
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