Speculation Mandy could be promoted to foreign secretary

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Speculation grows that Mandelson could be promoted to foreign secretary

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Moving the business secretary would allow Gordon Brown to retreat over his plans for the part-privatisation of the Royal Mail

Thursday, 21 May 2009

Ministers are expecting a cabinet reshuffle shortly after next month's elections that could see Lord Mandelson achieve his ambition of becoming foreign secretary.

Gordon Brown is thought to be considering moving the business secretary, who for many years has made little secret of the fact that he would like to run the Foreign Office and follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Herbert Morrision, who held the post in the post-war Attlee government.

Moving Mandelson would allow Brown to retreat over his plans for the part-privatisation of the Royal Mail. Mandelson is strongly committed to the postal services bill, but other ministers are less keen and Brown faces a huge Labour revolt if he does not back down before MPs debate the bill later this summer.

David Miliband, the current foreign secretary, could replace Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, who is seen for as the prime candidate for demotion or the sack in the reshuffle that is expected soon after the local and European elections on 4 June.

In a recent interview with the Times, Mandelson apparently alluded to his ambition to serve as foreign secretary, while at the same time suggesting that he thought it would not happen. "You have certain goals and I never achieved them. That's a disappointment for me," he said.

There has been speculation that Ed Balls, the children's secretary, could replace Mandelson as business secretary. Balls, an economist with a Treasury background, would be comfortable with a business portfolio and as Mandelson's replacement he would be able take a leading role in the government's drive to take Britain out of the recession.

Today the Financial Times says that Brown's allies believe that Mandelson will get the Foreign Office job. But other government sources are more sceptical. One said today: "I don't think Mandelson will be packing his passport quite yet."

Mandelson's appointment was popular with the business community, but Brown could find it hard to explain why Mandelson was leaving his department less than a year after he took up the post and with the recession still ongoing.

[k979aaa]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

[BELIAL]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

[k979aaa]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

Moss Side is too good for him!. Send him too hartlepool and put some cyanide in his GUACAMOLE!. :mfo

[Lounge Lizard]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

Moss Side is too good for him!. Send him too hartlepool and put some cyanide in his GUACAMOLE!. :mfo

But it would probably be to Holland to see what deal he could sort out with TNT.

[baldrick]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

Moss Side is too good for him!. Send him too hartlepool and put some cyanide in his GUACAMOLE!. :mfo

But it would probably be to Holland to see what deal he could sort out with TNT.

The further the better. :mfo

[andy2007]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

Moss Side is too good for him!. Send him too hartlepool and put some cyanide in his GUACAMOLE!. :mfo

But it would probably be to Holland to see what deal he could sort out with TNT.

Do you think it's wise, to let an incompetant like him near explosives?

[norbert]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

moving the deckchairs on the Titantic , the alternative is Dave Snooty & Pals , God help us all !

[stokes11eg]

Ach--just send him to Coventry.

[Lounge Lizard]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

Moss Side is too good for him!. Send him too hartlepool and put some cyanide in his GUACAMOLE!. :mfo

But it would probably be to Holland to see what deal he could sort out with TNT.

The further the better. :mfo

Yes, that's right, and TNT started out as Thomas Nationwide Transport in Australia, and you can't get much further than that.

[DGP1]

His first foreign visit should be to IRAQ and AFGANISTAN without his protection squad!. :mfo

You'd save some dosh by just sending him to Moss Side

Moss Side is too good for him!. Send him too hartlepool and put some cyanide in his GUACAMOLE!. :mfo

But it would probably be to Holland to see what deal he could sort out with TNT.

The further the better. :mfo

Yes, that's right, and TNT started out as Thomas Nationwide Transport in Australia, and you can't get much further than that.

We could try Alpha Centauri or Wolf 359, either will do