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Smart people and people who remember will understand why Clarke won that confrontation hands down. Everyone else won't be certain. They won't know, for example, that Mandelson is one of the most dishonest men ever to have held - been fired from (because of that dishonesty) - held again - and been fired from again (again, because of his habitual dishonesty) - a cabinet post. But nonetheless, despite his desperate record of deceit, he now holds the second highest office in this land - to which he has never been elected. I'm astounded Ken Clarke gave him an audience.
Mandelson is the epitome of (New) Labour - but is, sadly, proof that Labour, even after its monumental lies, failures and inadequacies, are nonetheless still dangerous. Mandelson - and Labour - will stop at nothing to stay in charge of a country that no longer wants them, and an economy that desperately needs them gone.
Ken Clarke is a man that demands - commands - your support. And, regardless of his strange, undying European fetish, he still totally deserves it.
Thanks for posting this Denverthen. Actually I wish we could see this two up against each other more often - because they are so important and two such seasoned performers. Even though Clarke may not like sullying his hands...and it would of course require a halfway impartial host.
ReplyDelete"Mandelson is one of the most dishonest men ever to have held - been fired from (because of that dishonesty) - held again - and been fired from again (again, because of his habitual dishonesty) - a cabinet post. But nonetheless, despite his desperate record of deceit, he now holds the second highest office in this land - to which he has never been elected."
I think, however, that's not the most damning part of it. I give you Brougham on Castlereagh, 1822 (adapted):
"Put all their other men (Cabinet Ministers) together in one scale and Mandelson in the other - single, he plainly weighs them down."
An epitaph for New Labour perhaps?
Most kind, Huw. And a brilliant - "adapted" ehem - quote that does illustrate well the lack of talent in Labour's ranks today, that such a man as Mandelson is their biggest beast (though I suspect that's not quite what you meant). I too would like to see them going head to head more often - though with a better referee than Snow blowing the whistle.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Castlereagh kill himself in the end, btw? I do hope Mandelson doesn't suffer the burden quite so much as Castlereagh clearly did of the sheer scope of his own political gravitas.
No, I really do. Honest.