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Well folks, now we know, Gordon is crazy! The Tory speech writers are gonna have a field over this!
Mandy back in the cabinet, (or should that be closet?)
A man twice forced out of office for corruption now taking decisions that we have no control over.
He isn't even an MP! This means we can't even get rid of him!
Democracy?
Gordon has lost all sense and any remaining shred of credibility.
I despair.

Don't hold back, Dig.

Tell us how you really feel!

Not a chance Min, I wouldn't want to offend your finer feelings!

Roy.

When our great leader assumed office (assumed is the right word) he said he was forming a government of "all the talents" - he didn't say which talents.

What I want to know is which puppet is gonna stand at the dispatch box and answer questions, 'cos he can't, he's not a member of the house!
I see a rapid elevation to the upper house as well.

Roy.

Lord Mandelson...Lord Mandelson...Lord Mandelson...nomatter how often you say it, it doesn't sound any better.

But at least it would be legal which I suspect is currently not the case.
Mind you, why let a little matter like legality stand in your way?

Roy.

Digit wrote:But at least it would be legal which I suspect is currently not the case.
Mind you, why let a little matter like legality stand in your way?

Roy.

Laws are made to be re-written.

Bush and his gang proved that.

Actually our constitution is unwritten - a source of constant joy to constitutional "experts".

I'm not sure what the legal position would be if a member of the government was not a member of either House.

In any event, if our great leader wants Mandelson there are no doubt many other jobs going in which his "gifts" could come into play. The history of the Blair years amply demonstrates you don't have to be in government (and therefore Parliament) to exercise power.

There have been cases in the past Grumpage where the PM was not of the Commons, Lord North I believe was the last case, but consider what Brown has done.
Mandelson is a very intelligent man, unfortunately he is not very smart.
He is loathed by many in his own party, many of his own party object to people being elevated to the upper house, and his inability to answer questions in the Commons is bound to give ammo to the opposition parties.
It also demonstrates that the government couldn't risk having him stand as a candidate for office. All this weakens him and I suspect will embitter him.
He is renowned for his ability at making enemies.
BUT, it does remove him from candidacy as a future PM, as regardless of constitution etc I doubt that the electorate would today accept a PM in the Lords.
That clears Brown's back of his biggest threat.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Sun-tzu.

Or as LBJ put it,
It's better to have him in the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in!

Roy.

Mandelson is quoted today as saying he will be "joined at the hip" to our great leader. That's all right then.

Media opinion appears to be divided on his appointment (that's the nub of the entire problem, yes?). The build up to the next election should be interesting to say the least. Perhaps we should slip into a medically induced coma until then - but then we'll miss all the excitement.

Mandelson rules, OK.