After Mandy, get ready for the return of David Blunkett

As Peter Mandelson basks in his new role of Gordon Brown's new best mate, Whitehall is awash with gossip that another old bruiser could be brought back into the Cabinet. Step forward David Blunkett.

Like Mandelson, Blunkett has been forced to resign twice - first as Home Secretary over the 'nannygate' saga and then as Work and Pensions Secretary over his business interests.

And like Mandelson he was once a sworn enemy of Gordon Brown. He frequently clashed with Brown when the parsimonious Chancellor attempted to slash his Home Office budget. Brown for his part viewed Blunkett with fear and suspicion during the period he was touted as an alternative successor to Tony Blair.

But the precariousness of Brown's position - he may be enjoying a high profile as a result of the financial meltdown, but Cameron still enjoys a lead in the polls of between eight and 12 points - has forced him to turn to the party's big beasts.

For all the furore over meetings on luxury yachts, Mandelson's return is considered at this early stage to have been a success. Margaret Beckett is back in the fold as Housing Minister.

Now David Blunkett is in line for a return to government in the New Year. He has become a regular visitor to Number 10 and toured the airwaves during September to profess his loyalty to the Prime Minister when the vultures circled.

The pair, I am told, have buried their differences for good and have agreed to work together in the face of the Tory enemy. One friend of Blunkett says: "Don't forget how tribal a figure David is and don't underestimate his desire to come back."

Brown views Blunkett as one of the party's best communicators and has bemoaned that he is languishing on the backbenches. He also thinks the blind working-class boy who made it to the top of government has a story to tell that contrasts neatly with the privileged backgrounds of David Cameron and George Osborne.

The question is over what sort of role Blunkett could be given. It would be hard to make him party chairman without the present incumbent, Harriet Harman, going nuclear. An undefined 'enforcer' role without Cabinet status could be rejected by Blunkett as lacking the necessary clout.

But Brown appears determined to solve the problem. The chances are shortening that we could soon once again be woken regularly by Blunkett's Yorkshire brogue on the Today programme.

THE MOLE: BIG BEASTS

FIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 3, 2008