Amazing! The enemy of Brown has just been brought back into the tent! No official news about what job he'll get, but looks likely that he'll be made a peer and then become Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Mandelson has formerly been Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Looks like Brown is trying to send out the message that he runs a united team of Blairites and Brownites and that he has appointed someone with international experience - given his current role as EU trade commissioner.
I can imagine the Tories having fun with this. Mandelson has been forced to resign twice from Cabinet during the Blair years and there are many anti-Brown quotes from Mandelson over the years.
This move would mean John Hutton will have to be moved - looks like defence - and also looks like the Unions have got something for all their money! They absolutely detest Hutton calling him the 'CBI's man in government'.
Also means Brown needs a new Commissioner - Geoff Hoon? Would Brown be bold enough to move his Chief Whip and appoint his deputy, Nick Brown, in his place - that would upset the Blairites given his role in forcing Blair out!
UPDATE:
- Mandelson will become Secretary of State for BER.
- John Hutton becomes new Defence Secretary
- Hoon is likely to become new EU Commissioner but not for another year. Will stay in the Cabinet in some capacity for the time being.
- Des Browne may become Secretary of State for the Nations.
Derek Draper has just said that the Tories will be really worried now Mandelson has come back in government. Hahahahahaha. Draper is a comedian! UPDATE 2:
- Geoff Hoon to be Transport Secretary
- Nick Brown to become Chief Whip - a lot of crap about 'balance' coming from the spin doctors.
- Margaret Beckett - you remember, that outstanding former Foreign Secretary - is rumoured to be returning to government.
UPDATE 3:
- Hillary Benn looks set to stay in his job at DEFRA.
- Des Browne to return to backbenches
- Sir John Bond to become 'Business Ambassador' - window dressing this. As Matthew Paris has just said, government can get advice from whomever it wants.
- Damian McBride - Brown's spin doctor - is to take a more backroom role. He has been blamed for briefing against Cabinet Ministers. He's quite a diversive figure known as Damian 'McPoison'!
- New Department for Energy and Climate to be formed - to avoid conflicts of interest between securing energy supply and fighting climate change.
UPDATE 5:
- Plans for a possible merger of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish departments to create a "ministry of the nations" have been put on hold, according to BBC's James Landale.
- Beckett to be a "Cabinet Enforcer"
- Ed Miliband to head up new Dept of Energy and Climate Change.
Thinking about the reshuffle, it seems to me that another message from it is that it is supposed to show government unity. Brown hopes that having a Cabinet that represents all wings of the party will help unify the party behind his leadership. This looks as a direct response to Cameron's repeated claims in his Conference speech that only he led a united party. Interesting to see whether this fragile unity will hold.
Still think the main message is that of 'experience'. Cameron will have to rise to the challenge and bring some big beasts of his own into his Shadow Cabinet. Alternatively, he needs to brand the reshuffle a desperate move bringing tired, has-been politicians back. Can't see the Daily Mail liking the fact that Mandelson, the Prince of Darkness, has been brought back... that should help Cameron. And some Labour backbenchers do not appear that happy with Mandelson's return either. Backbench Labour MP John McDonnell has said the Labour movement will be "perplexed" by the shock move and regard it as "extraordinary step backwards" for the party.
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