A Few Figures for You

Remember around this time last year Peter Mandelson persuaded Gordon Brown he needed a powerbase 'super' ministry to match his political ambitions? Of course Gordon said yes and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills were merged into the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). At the time some predicted the move would prove unmanageable and now BIS's most senior civil servant, permanent secretary Simon Fraser, has admitted that trying to create a 'coherent departmental structure' proved a 'major challenge'.

The confusion over the merger even led to major breaches of financial control. On two occasions, Mr Fraser said, the Treasury wrote to the department to warn that BIS officials had 'entered into financial commitment' without authorisation.

BIS has a budget of £33 billion and it is one of the Government's biggest departments. It has now been discovered that Peter Mandelson left a legacy of bad debts which cost taxpayers tens of millions of pounds last year. More than £30 million was written off as lost at the Department during 2009/210, while another £71 million is likely to go in this and future years. It is also throwing away almost £12 million a year renting part-empty office blocks which it vacated without finding new tenants. A further £137 million has been set aside to cover those rent losses in future years.

The details are buried in the latest accounts for BIS, which is now run by Libdem Vince Cable and which civil servants regard as a "problem child". The accounts also show BIS wrote off £30.9 million in bad debts last year after deciding the money was unlikely to be recovered and the department has also set aside £71 million for cash it expects to lose in unpaid student loans.

No wish to spoil your Sunday with this example of complete incompetence and mismanagement, but I thought you'd be interested to know, among other things, that the government offer our higher education students loans, then sets money aside to write them off. £71 million is more than 10% of loans granted.

Enjoy your Sunday.

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Labour Memoirs and Mini-Memoirs

We're told Gordon Brown is writing his memoirs in his rather lovely home overlooking the Firth of Forth. We're also told Peter Mandelson is hoping to publish his memoirs ahead of Gordon's and it will be called The Third Man (no grinning at the back please).

Today the Independent publish the mini-memoirs of Phil Woolas. He allegedly kept a diary of his final months in office.

Yes I've read it. Believe me I did try to squeeze out a modicum of sympathy. Then I tried a modicum of empathy. Then I laughed until I cried. Phil Woolas was a major player in the last government. Is it any wonder we're in the mess we are?

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No Smoke Without Fire

Baroness Ashton has been forced to deny rumours that she is poised to quit following widespread criticism of her performance as the EU's foreign affairs supremo.

Brussels sources said the Labour peer, appointed to the new £328,000-a-year job six months ago, was on the verge of resignation after opponents claimed she was not up to the job.

Some suggest Lord Mandelson, who long harboured ambitions for the job himself, has been spearheading a campaign to undermine her.

Surely the UK Business Secretary wouldn't behave so shabbily against one of his own? On the other hand, we all know that he enjoys forward planning. Where better than the arms of the EU to spend his senior years and accrue another few million to add to his already substantial pension pot.

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The Canny Man and the Flagrant Lord

A story of standards. When Boris Johnson boarded his BA flight to Davos on Thursday for the economic summit, who should greet him but Lord Mandelson of Hartlepool and Foy.

The Business Secretary was sitting in first class, sipping champagne and eating cake.

Boris, ever conscious of the public purse, was booked into economy and trudged past the Lord towards his seat in economy where he found the only snack available was a cereal bar.

Other passengers were heard to mutter that it was rather apt and topical. It showed the wider, philosophical difference between the two parties on the economy: labour profligacy and tory thrift.

Good for Boris showing his true character. It's not the first time he's travelled economy. Meanwhile Lord Mandelson was also showing his true character by enjoying the luxury few of us can afford at our expense.

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Editor's comment: I have been advised there is no first class service on BA European flights only business/club class and economy. Business/club class can be three times the price of economy depending upon flight dates.

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The Invisible Man

The title should have read 'Where is the Lord?' perhaps. Has Peter Mandelson decided enough's enough?

Although I've watched little television in the past weeks, I have missed the slick spinning tones of Lord Mandelson.

Are the rumours true?

Didn't some of us say it would all end in tears? Credit where credit's due Peter Mandelson has contributed greatly to Gordon Brown's team since he returned to the fold. Will his withdrawal of support for Brown make a difference to the forthcoming general election results?

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A Little Westminster Insider Information

We're all aware how often Lord Mandelson or Gordon Brown pop up on the media and, like benevolent millionaires, inform us of their latest concession to us, the great unwashed.

The sharp-as-a-tack Lobbydog received an alert from the Tories yesterday. It seems all the grand announcements of schemes involving the DBIS (Department of Business, Innovation and Skills), HM Treasury and the banks, are more or less hot air and not performing well, if at all.

Surprised? No, neither am I.

Lobbydog has the details of the various funds/schemes/programmes which are failures. One of my questions is where has the money gone which was earmarked for these projects?

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Minister of Disinformation

To the absolutely delight of the nation Lord Mandelson is to be gracing our television screens even more. The founder of the words "spin to win" (or was that Alistair Campbell?), may well be making weekly televised briefings which would be broadcast direct through the Downing Street website.

Gordon Brown has appointed Mandy for the job because he considers he's failed to "sell" the government's message to the public.

What he doesn't appear to understand is that no matter how good the marketing, if the product is inferior then the public won't buy at any price. A good product sells itself.

In an interview he admitted: “I could present our message a lot better, I’m actually shy by nature rather than extrovert, someone who feels that your actions should speak for themselves, but that’s not the way politics works these days.”

If all else fails play the sympathy card. He wasn't shy in cutting the 10p tax rate or giving £ billions to his banking cronies was he? Is his 'shyness' his excuse for ducking out of the public arena for days after Tony Blair announced we were to invade Iraq? 'Actions should speak for themselves' - indeed they do.

It was much easier for Gordon Brown to take to his bunker when he was chancellor, but as PM we expect him to be a charismatic communicator because we all know good communication skills are high on the list of qualifications for political life - after all politicians require no formal qualifications.

Peter Mandelson I admit, is a smooth operator, but will he be able to spread the word or will he eventually have to beg the public not to shoot the messenger?

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That was Great Peter, We Must Do It Again

With smiles and thanks again to David Forward

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A Kingdom is run by a King, an Empire by an Emperor so are we living in a Queendom or a Country?

A Guest Post by Faux Cul

Just who is running this Country?

Brown’s ratings at the polls are so low that only the longterm unemployed and sickness benefit claimants and the seriously intellectually challenged are srill indicating they would vote for him.

He is despised openly and derided privately by other national leaders.

Standby for an initiative, sorry dynamic action!

First Brown brings Mandelson back from Bruxelles.

Then he gives him a peerage title of over 25 letters.

Trust in the integrity of The House of Commons and our very democracy is going down the U bend

Then when he is so down the grubber after the English local and UK Euro Elections, his cabinet is disintegrating around him he calls Mandelson on The Batphone

He put this unelected unaccountable shape-shifter in charge of half the bliddy Government.

Brown declares an new era of transparent Government

He announces a long awaited Iraq enquiry but, says it will be held in private!

Just who is at the helm of SS UK?

Click on this and maybe somethings will become clearer?

http://tinyurl.com/n8fu2o

We are all doomed ah tell ye, doomed!

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Mandy's Mikado List

Turn your speakers on

With thanks to FidotheDog

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Douglas Alexander Gets the Elbow

Poor wee Dougie, sidelined by Lord Mandelson. After all these years of scurrying around in the bowels of No 11 then No 10, carrying out his mentor's bidding, saying 'yes Gordon, no Gordon, three bags full Gordon', Douglas Alexander has not been included in Mandelson's new kitchen cabinet. The G8, as it has been nicknamed, leaves out three of Brown's most faithful and loyal supporters who are senior ministers - Ed Miliband the Climate Change Secretary, Nick Brown the Chief Whip and Douglas Alexander the International Development Secretary. It will meet each Monday to discuss policy. The cabinet can be called the RSC now (the Rubber Stamping Cabinet).

The absence of Mr Alexander, in particular, is raising eyebrows as he is in charge of strategy for Labour's general election campaign.

Never mind Dougie, you didn't lose your ministerial car and you'll have plenty time to see to the organisation of the postal votes in the English and Scottish by-elections due around September.

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The Cost of Unelected Mandelson's Empire

I don't usually recommend individual posts as my day would be consumed by publishing, but Guthrum of Old Holborn fame, has a post about the cost of Mandelson's empire. It wouldn't surprise me if many of you agree with his/her opinion. I certainly do. Read it here.

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The Lord Protector of Gordon

My thanks to Prodicus

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