The BBC waste no time in publicising Peter Mandelson's claims

This morning the BBC were for a short time leading their news coverage with the story that

'Business leaders back Conservative tax pledge - Bosses of some of the UK's biggest firms have backed Conservative plans to axe part of Labour's planned National Insurance rise if they win power.

The 23 - including Marks & Spencer's and Next's bosses - said the 1% NI increase would be a "tax on jobs" and would "endanger" economic recovery.

David Cameron called it a "significant" moment in the election campaign.'

The Labour/BBC alliance swiftly countered with this 'Mandelson attacks Tory tax 'deception' - Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has described Conservative plans to scrap part of a planned National Insurance rise as a "deception".' and an article explaining that

'Labour hits back after City bosses back Tories on NI - The leaders of 23 major UK firms have been "deceived" by a Conservative pledge to axe some National Insurance rises, Lord Mandelson has claimed.

He said the Tories could not make their sums add up without increasing VAT.'

It would be interesting to know how long the BBC were allowed to keep the first article up before Peter Mandelson swung into action.

Interestingly the top story is now this:

'Bosses hit back in National Insurance rise row - A row over National Insurance rises has escalated after business leaders said claims they had been "deceived" into backing Tory plans were "patronising".

Chancellor Alistair Darling accused the Tories of "peddling a deception" after 23 top bosses backed proposals to curb National Insurance increases.

Mr Darling said the bosses should take a "long hard look" at the Tory plans, rather than accepting "flimsy advice".

But two of them hit back instantly, accusing Labour of a "tax on jobs".

Next boss Simon Wolfson, a longstanding Conservative supporter, said in a statement: "Of course we have not been deceived.

"The principle is a very simple one. It is a question of, do we pay for government profligacy through increased taxes or do we urge them to save money in a way that businesses have?"

Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire said: "It's a little patronising to suggest that we've been deceived.

"This isn't a political point, it's a business issue - whichever way you look at it, it's a tax on jobs."'

The BBC do quote Peter Mandelson again:

'Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the Conservative plans were a "cynical deception" that could not be achieved without increasing VAT, as he said the Conservatives had done after winning elections in 1979 and 1992.

He said shadow chancellor George Osborne was "like a kid in a sweet shop, who thinks he can just grab sweets from every jar without paying for them".

"Of course there are some in business who are going to support what appears to be a pain-free tax cut. I mean, who wouldn't, if offered that?," said Lord Mandelson.

"But the point is, this is not pain-free and Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne are peddling a deception."'

Well if anyone should know about "cynical deception" it would be Peter 'dodgy mortgage application' Mandelson.