Second term for Mandy debunked

Reports of a recent rapprochement between Peter Mandelson and Gordon Brown – and the suggestion that Mandy might stay on for a second term as Britain's European commissioner – appear to have been premature.

Brown's official spokesman went cold on the idea in Brussels today. Asked whether the PM had warmed towards Mandy, he said the commissioner's last public statement on the issue was that he did not want the job.

Last year, when Brown took over from Blair at Number 10, Mandy, in a petulant mood, said he would stand down to avoid giving Brown the chance to sack him. A Brussels source was reported as saying at the time: "Peter said he cannot sack him and he did not want a second term anyway."

But Mandy was thought to have had a rethink since then and it was reported in the Guardian earlier this week that all was so lovey-dovey that Gordon had asked him whether he wanted a second term.

Today, the Number 10 man indicated that Brown was, after all, holding Mandelson to his last public statement on the subject. "The Prime Minister thinks this is still very early in terms of deciding who the next British commissioner should be, but in any case, Mr Mandelson has already said he does not want to serve a second term."

Oh, the trials and tribulations of Peter! The PM has dared to hold the Master of the Dark Arts to what he stated in public!

THE MOLE: MANDELSON

FIRST POSTED MARCH 13, 2008