Peter Mandelson is a 'slippery' character. Why you ask? Because he just is!
When I saw 'Mandelson An Appreciation' as one of the comments on the Guardians website I couldn't help but giggle. I never thought I'd read such a statement. Who would believe this man deserved 'an appreciation' and moreover who would actually comment this in a national newspaper. I suppose only in the Guardian.
But when you think of it Paul Owen, who writes the comment, has a point. Mandelson after all did play a crucial role in the process of making Labour the successful electoral machine it has been since the mid-90s and should continue to be if it sticks to the centre.
I suppose, however, some people are just 'slippery' and regardless of what they say and do we'll always be listening and watching with a degree cringing cynicism. Hence we viewed Mandelson's modernising of the Labour Party as a mere 'rebranding exercise' and we'll forever view professional campaigning and media management as 'spin'.
On the recent Tony Blair documentary, Mandelson said Tony 'has a rod of steal and I've even been on the recieving end of it on a couple of occassions'. He certainly has the Cliff Richard cringe factor. This is a man who looks and sounds untrustworthy.
The poor guy: he has resigned not once but twice from the cabinet, he is still 'mr spin', he still hasn't removed the big white gay elephant from his room, and now he's one of those unelected EU Commissioners the British people love. So why is Mr Mandelson loathed? It is because he's slippery and it's as simple as that.
When I saw 'Mandelson An Appreciation' as one of the comments on the Guardians website I couldn't help but giggle. I never thought I'd read such a statement. Who would believe this man deserved 'an appreciation' and moreover who would actually comment this in a national newspaper. I suppose only in the Guardian.
But when you think of it Paul Owen, who writes the comment, has a point. Mandelson after all did play a crucial role in the process of making Labour the successful electoral machine it has been since the mid-90s and should continue to be if it sticks to the centre.
I suppose, however, some people are just 'slippery' and regardless of what they say and do we'll always be listening and watching with a degree cringing cynicism. Hence we viewed Mandelson's modernising of the Labour Party as a mere 'rebranding exercise' and we'll forever view professional campaigning and media management as 'spin'.
On the recent Tony Blair documentary, Mandelson said Tony 'has a rod of steal and I've even been on the recieving end of it on a couple of occassions'. He certainly has the Cliff Richard cringe factor. This is a man who looks and sounds untrustworthy.
The poor guy: he has resigned not once but twice from the cabinet, he is still 'mr spin', he still hasn't removed the big white gay elephant from his room, and now he's one of those unelected EU Commissioners the British people love. So why is Mr Mandelson loathed? It is because he's slippery and it's as simple as that.
2 comments:
After your second paragraph, I just knew I had to do a Facebook search. Sure enough, there is indeed a Peter Mandelson Appreciation Society! It had four members, one of which is Mandy himself, apparently.
http://manchester.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2222123670
Did you see tonight's Bremner, Bird & Fortune? There was a great Mandelson skit at the end, so try to catch the repeat!
unfortunetely i missed it tonight
I cant believe that... something tells me the creators are trying to be ironic. there really is a group for anything and everything on facebook!
im loving the picture of Mandy they've used. he looks very stern and serious
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