News: Mandy Quits

Peter Mandelson, the popular effervescent Labour politician has announced that he will not seek a cabinet seat in the new administration. Having put in 4 years of dedicated service, friends say, he could really do with a rest. It seems no amount of begging from fellow MPs will have back in government.

"His mind's made up," TS was told, "You won't see him for a bit. I think he'll keep his head down for good while." Mandelson famously resigned from three cabinet posts during the last government. However, other government ministers seem quite keen to have him back.

"He is a competent constituency MP," said colleague and close friend, deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, "We had a civil relationship," he gushed. Other ministers are equally sad to lose his valuable skills.

Above: Not afraid of getting his hands dirty

"He was professional," Robin Cook told TS, through a lady friend.

David Blunkett heaped praise on his colleague, and emphasised his much overlooked leadership skills.

"I attended cabinet meetings at which he was also present in his capacity as a government minister," Blunkett told us. Even Old Labour faces like Tony Benn have enthused about the loyalty and skill of Mandelson.

"We are both Labour members," Benn told TS this morning, "I cannot deny this basic fact."

What future Mandelson has outside front bench politics is unknown, although to listen to the praise coming from his Labour friends you would think he could turn his hand to anything.

"I definitely see his future outside of the cabinet," said former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, "He will certainly be pursuing a career in a different arena."

Above: Huge local support

As the fall-out from his decision not to ask Tony Blair to give his another government ministry continues, he can expect to receive strong support from the grass roots in his local constituency of Hartlepool.

"I think I may have met him once," local party member John Fallice told TS, "I believe he visited the town at some stage."

"People say that Hartlepool is a safe Labour seat," said local man Mike Stage, "and we thought it was too, until he arrived. He managed to turn a safe, secure seat into a life and death struggle. Now that really took some doing, and I have no doubt that it was all down to him." Modest to the end, Mandelson is keen to share the credit.

"The local party members are too kind," he said, "It was a team effort, I think everyone contributed towards my narrow victory."

And what now? Many collegues feel a career in the foreign service might be in order, with his recent involvment in issuing passports to needy Indians there are a few senior Labour members who can see Mandelson serving his country from abroad.

"Far away, very, very, far away. That would certainly be to the benifit of the country. Hell, I'll pay for the ticket," one unnamed man from downing street told us.