Peter Mandelson to return to Cabinet

by Dave Keating | October 3, 2008 at 01:44 am

92 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

In a truly stunning move, Peter Mandelson, the EU's Trade Commissioner, has been recalled to London to serve in Gordon Brown's cabinet. Mandelson was a powerful voice in Brussels, and it will be interesting to see who fills the power vacuum there, as Mandelson was the most powerful British politician within the EU apparatus.

Peter Mandelson is set for a sensational return to the Cabinet under changes to be unveiled by Gordon Brown today.

The European Trade Commissioner is expected to be made a peer and join the Government as Secretary for Business, sitting in the House of Lords. John Hutton, the current Business Secretary, would then take over at Defence from Des Browne as part of a larger Cabinet reshuffle than had been expected.

Downing Street officials are describing the plan as "speculation at this stage" but it is known that Mr Mandelson and Mr Brown have been talking regularly over recent weeks.

If it happens, it would be the most astonishing political reconcilation of modern times. The two men were once close friends and, with Tony Blair, created New Labour.