The Guardian’s tick-tock of how Peter Mandelson and Number 10 prevented a full-scale Cabinet revolt after news broke of James Purnell’s resignation reveals just how easily the Cabinet were brought off:
Now, isn’t this just what we heard after Ruth Kelly resignation was annouced at 3am and McBride was shifted off the front line? Brown’s Downing Street will always operate as it does because it reflects the character of the man at the top.“These ministers believe they have won two assurances. First, that cabinet ministers such as Alistair Darling will not again find themselves briefed against. There was deep anger in cabinet when Darling found himself being referred to in the past tense by Brown earlier in the week. Second, ministers believe they have won assurances that Brown will make more of an effort to consult ministers and backbenchers, ensuring no repeat of the YouTube fiasco when he announced a series of unilateral proposals on expenses. “There needs to be a completely new way of doing things,” one source said.”
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