Abolish the Commons - Mandelson for PM

Anthony Barnett, 5 June 2009

What is Mandelson up to now that he has seized higher education as well as business? The philistines are through the gates. But where next? My first reaction is that Blair's aim is to become President of Europe, as has been widely reported in our ever revealing press and broadcasting media. To achieve this they have to keep Brown in control of the UK vote. Once Blair has the job he'll appoint Mandelson as a special advisor on a euro-salary and Brown can...

But now I suspect that Mandelson is considering other options as well. After all the Commons is now in complete disrepute. There are today seven peers in the Cabinet. Why not go the whole way. As Brown crumbles Mandelson can replace him - picking up from Lord Salisbury who was our upper chamber's last PM. Why not? The demeaning PMQs are replaced by polite exchanges. The wretched Commons is moved into deserved second place. There is far more wisdom among peers than MPs. The New Labour project was to place government in the hands of specialists.What better way to achieve this?

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Comments

Ian Campbell

7 June 2009 - 1:34pm

There is now a convention that peers cannot be PM but Mandelson could get away with offering himself as a caretaker PM with an 'immediate' election to be held in the Autumn, allowing the Labour party time to elect a new leader. In the meantime, the iterim govt could clean up Parliament.

owly

7 June 2009 - 5:38pm

There is indeed a convention that a PM must now sit in the Commons, but Labour have little respect for conventions when it suits them. The acid test Her Majesty would apply is could Mandelson command a majority in the Commons ? With the Labour Party in its current state the answer would probably be no. As to Ian's comment what we need is a new Speaker (we get on middle of the month) and then we need a General Election. Only a new Parliament can 'clean up Parliament'. As a minister has observed, the 'stables need clearing; the problem is we are the stables'. That's why the public will not wear this discredited bunch stitching up the rules yet again. General Election now is what we need and want.