Starmer’s Mandelson Weak Spot

Some senior Labour figures made no secret of their dislike for him: John Prescott was just one of many passing adverse comment on Peter Mandelson, one of the key players in the 1990s rebranding of the party as New Labour. Now, 25 years after the blessed Tone swept “Shagger” Major aside in a landslide General Election victory, Mandelson is strongly rumoured to be back in, or very close to, the leadership’s top team.

The Guardian told last September that “Philip Collins, Blair’s former speechwriter, has been involved in refining [Keir] Starmer’s address. It has led to fierce accusations from the left that the ultimate Blair-era strategist, Peter Mandelson, has gained significant influence inside Starmer’s office”. That report followed on from another Guardian piece two days previously, where Mandelson set out his vision for the challenge facing the party.

But I have to tell the Labour leadership that those most comfortable with any sign of Mandelson at the top table are not those closest to Starmer, and definitely not those who want to see Labour back in power. The greatest comfort zone will be within the Tory Party, their strategists, advisors and indeed dirty tricks specialists, and also the right-leaning part of our free and fearless press. Because, to them, Mandelson is a gift.

Starmer can be the most clean and upstanding candidate for Prime Minister - not difficult, given the behaviour and track record of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson - but that will count for nothing if he can be attacked by proxy. Guilt by association is going to be the name of the game, and it’s a game the Tories will be only too willing to play. How so?

“Mandelson bought a home in Notting Hill in 1996 partly with an interest-free loan of £373,000 from Geoffrey Robinson, a cabinet colleague and millionaire whose business dealings were subject to an inquiry by Mandelson's department. [He] contended that he had deliberately not taken part in any decisions relating to Robinson. However, he had not declared the loan in the Register of Members' Interests and resigned in December 1998”.

That’s one reason. Another: “On 24 January 2001 Mandelson resigned from the Government for a second time, following accusations of using his position to influence a passport application. He had contacted Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien on behalf of Srichand Hinduja, an Indian businessman … Hinduja and his brothers were under investigation by the Indian government for alleged involvement in the Bofors scandal”.

And the controversies just kept on coming. “During the 2009 expenses scandal The Daily Telegraph raised questions about the timing of Mandelson's second home allowance claim, dating from 2004 … On 22 April 2005 The Times revealed that Mandelson had spent the previous New Year's Eve on the yacht of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, which was at the centre of a major EU investigation”. And there was more.

“In October 2008 Mandelson was reported to have maintained private contacts over several years with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska”. Deripaska has just been sanctioned by the UK Government. Oh, and “In 2015 it was revealed that Peter Mandelson appears in Jeffrey Epstein's contacts book”. The Mail has already run a smear piece on that link.

That is why the Tories and their pals will be exceedingly comfortable if Mandelson is close to the Labour leadership. The dirty tricks can, and will, get much, much dirtier.

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