Mandelson and Blunkett

On 5 October I reported that:

"the news today that "Gordon Brown plans to bring David Blunkett back into the Cabinet" is beyond belief. David Blunkett, the man who like Peter Mandelson had to resign twice; first as Home Secretary in 2004 over claims that he used his office to speed up a visa for the nanny of his lover, Kimberly Quinn and second in 2005 as Work and Pensions Secretary when he admitted he had breached the ministerial code by not getting clearance for three posts he took on after leaving the Cabinet. Blunkett sounds like just the man to bring a sheen of honesty and competence to this Labour government and he would be happy to bring in absolutely any population surveillance measures deemed necessary for the defence of the Labour government country, this would be right his authoritarian street."

Today I read in The Mail that:

" David Blunkett is poised for an accelerated return to Government after holding talks with Gordon Brown about taking on a role as party troubleshooter.

Following discussions at Downing Street, the former Home Secretary told friends he was expecting ‘the call’ from the Prime Minister last Tuesday.

However, negotiations are believed to have stalled at the last minute because Mr Blunkett is holding out for a full Cabinet position."

The Mail continues with this laughable claim:

"Aides have since urged him to speed up the process, arguing Mr Blunkett’s humble origins and inspiring ‘back story’ would be an effective weapon against the ‘privileged’ Tories."

"Inspiring back story", would that be his resignations over impropriety? Maybe they mean his position as Chair of the International Advisory Committee to Entrust Inc, a company pushing for work on the ID cards scheme that he is so in favour of?

Mandelson and Blunkett, Draper and Campbell - it must be just like old times in Downing Street as Gordon Brown gathers around him those who spun and slimed their way into Government in the past in an attempt to hold onto power for himself. If "by their friends ye shall know them", then I think we know all we need to know about these particular "gentlemen".