Mandelson blamed for Labour's election 'disaster'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lord Mandelson was today blamed for the "disaster" of Labour's general election campaign by one of Gordon Brown's closest allies.
In the first indication of a backlash against the former business secretary over his forthcoming memoirs, Charlie Whelan said Lord Mandelson had run the worst election campaign "in Labour's history".
Mr Whelan, political director of the Unite union, is a former press secretary to Mr Brown and remained close to him when he was prime minister.
His intervention came after Lord Mandelson, in an interview to promote his new book, said Mr Brown was "very badly served" by his aides and their "unbridled contempt" for Tony Blair.
Mr Whelan hit back, telling The Sunday Telegraph: "Peter ran the worst general election campaign in Labour's history.
"Nobody knew what the message was at all. It was a disaster from beginning to end."
He added: "Peter wasn't focused on the campaign at all. Clearly his only thoughts were for his book."
There are concerns in Labour circles about potential for the book, The Third Man, to highlight again the divisions and feuds at the top of the former Labour government.
It will be serialised from tomorrow.
Interviewed ahead of the serialisation, Lord Mandelson said that Mr Brown felt he, Lord Mandelson and Mr Blair had "killed each other" during the height of the New Labour infighting.
He suggested that Mr Brown's supporters were responsible for much of the difficulty.
"The unbridled contempt that some people around Gordon had for Tony and those who worked for him was very destructive," he said.
"They were constantly winding him up - partly because that's what they felt. Partly because that's what they thought he wanted to hear."
Lord Mandelson declined to endorse any of the current Labour leadership candidates.
But he did say he knew former Cabinet colleague Ed Miliband "very well and like him". He also said ex-Schools Secretary Ed Balls had leadership qualities, including "strong views, tough analysis and a forceful personality".
His memoir, titled The Third Man, is being published more than a month ahead of Mr Blair's long-awaited autobiography.
Lord Mandelson's timing is reported to have annoyed the former prime minister, who has held off publication of his own book until Labour was out of power.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments