While ministers are out defending Mandelson’s time as ambassador Jon Sopel has been pontificating with Emily Maitlis about how terrible the Mandelson scandal is. Not what he was saying before…
Back in December when Mandelson was appointed Sopel wrote in the Independent that he was “probably perfect for the job” and appointing him was a “very smart move.” Sopel’s praise is almost as damaging for someone’s longevity as a statement of full confidence from Starmer…
He went on about how great Mandy is: “Mandelson is clever, feline and tough – and when he wants to be, seductively charming. He already has a great contacts book and will have the ear of the prime minister.“ The contacts book…
Sopel said: “Yes he has his faults, but he’s bloody good and a class act.” Maybe the News Agents needs an extra host…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”