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Last December I made a post which said "Peter Mandelson has all the skills and abilities to make an exceedingly good diplomat" and up until yesterday he had undoubtedly demonstrated his abilities.

I fear now that the story about relations with Epstein will run and run and the outcome may not be beneficial for either Peter or even Trump.

Edited by vladi
By request
26 minutes ago, Sephiroth said:

he should never have been appointed 

 

Can't agree with that because he is a superb communicator - a really smart and  smooth talker. He studied PPE at Oxford and was communications director for Labour for many years. 
Setting aside the "minor"  indiscretions during his time in government he has all the smoothness and ability to flatter Trump without appearing obsequious. Plus he can manage and exploit  Trump’s ego.
He is highly polished socially, comfortable in elite circles, skilled at making personal connections. He can flatter and disarm, which is a useful tactic with Trump, who responds well to personal respect and praise.
As a former EU Trade Commissioner and Cabinet minister, Mandelson understands international relations, trade, and diplomacy. He knows how to frame issues in terms of “wins” that Trump could claim credit for.

I honestly hope that he survives.

 

43 minutes ago, vladi said:

Last December I made a post which said "Peter Mandelson has all the skills and abilities to make an exceedingly good diplomat" and up until yesterday he had undoubtedly demonstrated his abilities.

I fear now that the story about relations with Epstein will run and run and the outcome may not be beneficial for either Peter or even Trump.

And I replied:

Mandelson and Trump have much in common. They are both shallow, vulgar and vain. They both fetishise wealth and power, irrespective of who holds it or how it was accumulated. They were both close friends and associates of the late Jeffrey Epstein and have moved in the same circles, as Ghislaine Maxwell’s address book allegedly confirms.
Recognising another who is utterly transactional and lacking in a moral compass, there’s every chance of “Petie” fitting right in Mar-a-Largo.

That Starmer couldn’t anticipate that Mandelson’s past behaviour would be problematic just proves how inept this government is.

  • Agree 1
2 hours ago, vladi said:

Can't agree with that because he is a superb communicator - a really smart and  smooth talker. He studied PPE at Oxford and was communications director for Labour for many years. 
Setting aside the "minor"  indiscretions during his time in government he has all the smoothness and ability to flatter Trump without appearing obsequious. Plus he can manage and exploit  Trump’s ego.
He is highly polished socially, comfortable in elite circles, skilled at making personal connections. He can flatter and disarm, which is a useful tactic with Trump, who responds well to personal respect and praise.
As a former EU Trade Commissioner and Cabinet minister, Mandelson understands international relations, trade, and diplomacy. He knows how to frame issues in terms of “wins” that Trump could claim credit for.

I honestly hope that he survives.

 

- had all the wrong connections at the wrong time

- fraternised with some well dodgy blokes or rather one at least  

- smart and  smooth talker

- he has all the smoothness and ability to flatter

- he is highly polished

- skilled at making personal connections

- never liked or trusted the chap, reminiscent of a slime ball

Yep Peter Mandelson is officially toast. 

But what now MUST happen is that the title of Lord and all the privileges which go with that should be removed immediately. It's a long way up the pole but it's an even longer way back down as Mandelson is finding out.   

This thread should be updated with a new title. "Is Keith Starmer Toast?" 

 

I would say yes. This is as bad as when Boris Johnson ignored Chris Pincher's behaviour. And Starmer piled in very heavily on Johnson for that. If he doesn't resign himself now he is an enormous hypocrite and this will be very damaging  indeed.

48 minutes ago, Spartacus said:

Doesn't Andy Burnham have to be elected as an MP before he can become PM ? 

I’ve heard rumours he’s considering stepping down as mayor, with a Labour MP in ill health, who’s an ally, considering standing down from his seat, so Burnham can run. 

I wonder if Mcsweeny will go next. Whether he goes or stays, his puppet is  dead in the water. 

I’m a big Wes Streeting fan and think we could do a lot worse. 

Edited by HeadNun
Forgot to add detail about MP
1 hour ago, Spartacus said:

Doesn't Andy Burnham have to be elected as an MP before he can become PM ? 

It’s all fantasy, so it’s irrelevant not going to  happen. 
edit to say I’ve just read the above post very interesting

Edited by alice

Alice, I think that if Burnham did try to run, Starmer would do everything he could to block him.

I hope you’re right when you say it’s irrelevant though - I’m far from a Starmer fan but I think a leadership challenge would jeopardise our standing on the world stage, where Starmer has actually managed to do some decent work 

  • Agree 1

What standing on the world stage?

Starmer is a wannebe leader, no charisma, no passion, no leadership but tonnes of dithering, wringing his hands and pooing his pants. 

I'd love to see Burnham give him a run for his money. Reason he became Mayor of Manchester was due to him no longer wanting to be in front line politics. 

This thread has now gone well off topic, perhaps it needs renaming. Mandy and Keith's bathrobe Or, how Mandy stuck it to Starmer

Edited by jazzer
2 hours ago, HeadNun said:

if Burnham did try to run, Starmer would do everything he could to block him.

This is a huge part of the problem.

 

Starmer is only interested in himself, not in what is best for our country. 

 

There's a litany of stuff he's done for spiteful jealous personal reasons which has damaged the nation enormously.

Burnham would be a much better leader than of the other dross left behind when Starmer goes.

To inflict a worse leader (and PM) upon us for his own selfish reasons would add to the problems and be entirely in keeping with his woeful premiership so far.

Edited by CPR Dave
  • Like 1
  • Agree 1
56 minutes ago, CPR Dave said:

There's a litany of stuff he's done for spiteful jealous personal reasons which has damaged the nation enormously.

Burnham would be a much better leader than of the other dross left behind when Starmer goes.

To inflict a worse leader (and PM) upon us for his own selfish reasons would add to the problems and be entirely in keeping with his woeful premiership so far.

Do tell, CPR Dave, what the spiteful jealous stuff is - I'm intrigued. 

Agree - Burnham is a top class communicator (polar opposite of Starmer) he'd do a great job of uniting the party. I still think Wes Streeting has the edge, though I'm sure he has more enemies as well. 

  • Like 1

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