New papers from the National Archive show how, in April 2003 Lord [John] Birt, then advising Tony Blair at No 10, backed Peter Mandelson for a new gig.
“I gather from Peter [Mandelson] that you still talk to him regularly but, as a safeguard, you may like to know what he reports to me about his current state of mind. He feels this spring/summer may be the moment of decision for him. He’s approaching 50 – and he is sorely conscious that time is passing and he has yet to fulfil his promise.
“As you know, Peter’s deepest wish is to return to government. He stresses that he has already proved to be a capable minister, and that he would be a strong ally for you in cabinet.
“If you judge a return to government is not possible, then he would like you to consider appointing him as EC Commissioner. One way or another, he says he wants to settle his future this year, even if it means a career outside politics.”
Just four months later, it was announced that Mandelson was to be the UK’s next European commissioner.
When Mandelson appears on the BBC he's often called the architect of the 97 election landslide. It's a lazy & inaccurate description. The stats show that under John Smith Labour was streaking ahead in the polls & Mandelson & Blair took over a winning side. By the time of the 97 election Labour was polling lower than it had when the architect took over.
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