Co-conspirators can listen here to Pensions minister Torsten Bell’s bizarre short speech to attendees of the Social Market Foundation think tank’s drinks do in London last night, just after the second tranche of Mandelson Files came out. Also in attendance, local government minister Alison McGovern…
There was a bizarre segment in which Bell lectured the audience on how “why did you get into politics” is a useless question and one “only your mum should care about.” He went on to say: “The question they should ask you is: what have you read recently?” Bell self-effacingly patted himself on the back for “thinking and reading into sad, dark middle age”…
He then forced the audience to clap: “Everyone’s got back in the essay writing business, can we all just give that a round of applause.” Oh boy…
Bell ended with some jokes to lukewarm laughter:
“Writing will also help you answer the big questions and that is important across parties…
If you’re in Reform you’re trying to the big question: how do you spend £5 million?
If you’re in the Greens… why does Zack keep lying?
And if you’re in the Labour Party? How do you turn on disappearing messages?”
Read Torsten’s candid and personal messages with Peter Mandelson below:
Peter Mandelson → Torsten Bell (then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions) WhatsApp, 3 August 2024 – 20 July 2025
Mandelson: [Link: ‘Register your interest to vote in the Election of the Chancellor’] A little light recess activity. William Hague is the front runner but there may be a Labour candidate. To vote in October requires registering now…please spread the word amongst sympathetic Oxford graduates.
Mandelson: [Link] Thank you for registering to vote in the Oxford Chancellor election. Oxford Labour students really want this election to go Labour’s way for the first time in the university’s history. The deadline for registrations is midnight on Sunday. We need as many Labour leaning people as possible to register. Could you please have one last think about anyone in your networks who might be eligible and might not yet be registered, and forward them this link?
Bell: You. Are. Here.
Mandelson: And proud to be so!
Bell: That’s a bit keen.
Bell: I’d say you look content rather than proud
Mandelson: Content for now, proud of what is yet to come….
Bell: Very proud of what is yet to come! Hope this comes off
Mandelson: We’ll see
Mandelson: [Link: World Class Oxford on X] A message from Peter Mandelson: Voting will open on Monday for the final round of the Oxford Chancellor election so please monitor your inbox. Please also see my video below where I set out why we need a Chancellor with strong international connections and close links to the new Government to champion the university and higher [education]
Mandelson: Hi. That was in NY…. There is a trade deal to be had but I am not sure the way we are going about it. I am not included in the team so I am just keeping my fingers crossed.
Bell: That… isn’t massively reassuring. Will join you in the finger crossing
Bell: How are you escaping enough to do the ditchley lecture for them?
Mandelson: Cos it’s ahead of SV…. How are you?
Bell: Is this SV going to go well for us?
Bell: I’m fine – pensions ministering is a safe politically gig, and an interesting one policy wise. Then just help help Rachel and Keir out when asked on the side.
Bell: Obviously the big picture is… messy
Mandelson: It should do. No problems foreseen at present. It’s messy because the government doesn’t do policy, generally speaking, well enough. It all starts with policy.
Bell: Which govt?
Bell: Will I get to see you on this trip or too much just flying in and out around the SV itself?
Mandelson: Our government!
Bell: Well that is definitely true – everyone seems to think it’s someone else’s job to get the policy right… which is very odd
Mandelson: As the saying goes, rubbish in rubbish out…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”