The Thick Of It came to life

The Mail seem shocked that:

"Lance Price, who worked for Tony Blair, has disclosed that Lord Mandelson was behind a groundless BBC report alleging that ex-Hong Kong governor Lord Patten faced being prosecuted for leaking state secrets.

Mr Price was a BBC political reporter when Lord Mandelson told him 'off the record' that the story was true - prompting the BBC to broadcast the claims to millions of people.

But it turned out to be a crude attempt to deflect attention from the row over former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook's affair with secretary Gaynor Regan."

A Labour spin doctor using misdirection to divert the public's attention now where have wee seen that before? Take a look at The Thick of it, Season 2, Episode 1.

The Mail report continues:

"Once the BBC had run the story, Lord Mandelson went on the record to confirm the matter was being investigated.

But Mr Price's book is the first time it has been established that Lord Mandelson was instrumental in the Corporation's decision to report it in the first place.

Mr Price goes on to reveal his - and the BBC's - fury when they found out the allegations suggesting Lord Patten had handed classified documents to journalist Jonathan Dimbleby were groundless.

'The strategy was cack-handed and counter-productive,' says Mr Price. 'By Monday it was clear that neither story had any foundation and many of us realised we had been taken for a ride.'

Lord Patten, now Chancellor of Oxford University, was officially cleared of any wrongdoing months later. He said yesterday: 'This is just another example of Labour spin teetering over the brink into mendacity.

'I was really cross at the time. My family were genuinely hurt at having these ridiculous allegations plastered all over the papers. It is exactly the kind of thing we can look forward to from Lord Mandelson in the coming Election campaign.

'I have always believed that when people say Mandelson is simply telling things as they are, that it is time to count the spoons.'"

Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - what a delightful quartet that was/is.