Mandelson talks bollox

Post by **POSTMAN** » 21 Oct 2008, 17:03

http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Mande ... 4613015.jp

PETER Mandelson heightened speculation he backs part-privatisation of the Royal Mail today as he faced his first grilling from MPs after being made Business Secretary.
The newly-created life peer said he was "not alarmed" by a report in the Financial Times that he told them his 1998 proposal to allow private sector stakes in the state-owned postal firm would have become law if he had remained in the Government.

Facing questions from the business select committee, he said the source of the story was a conversation with a journalist when he was first appointed.

"As it was a rather casual conversation unwitnessed and unrecorded by anyone from my office I'm afraid I can only rely on my own recollection of what I said.

"But I didn't find the report in the Financial Times alarming in any way. It just wasn't based on an interview given there and then."

The story created alarm among trade unionists and some Labour MPs, one of whom described it as "madness" that would "undermine an essential public service".

He also played down a story in yesterday's Independent suggesting he was set to postpone the introduction of family-friendly flexible working in the light of the credit crunch.

"I gather that both the headline and the introduction to this story owe more to the inventiveness of the subs than the journalist who actually wrote it," he said.

And he took a general swipe at his media coverage – which has centred on strongly-denied suggestions that his social meetings with a Russian billionaire could have influenced EU decisions when he was its Trade Commissioner.

"I have had to put up with a sort of media narrative that has owed more to lifestyle journalism than economic and business analysis.

"The only thing that has been absent from this narrative is the sex, drugs and rock and roll but I've no doubt those missing elements will be rectified in the coming Sunday newspapers and I, of course, await it with baited breath."

But he joked that he had "no complaint" about the UK media.

"I've grown to love them all, like my family," he quipped in a light-hearted start to the session.

Lord Mandelson, who has twice previously been forced to quit the Cabinet, said he hoped to enjoy the "eternal confidence of the bookies" when asked how long he expected to last in his new post.

The Business Secretary, who is 55 today, told the members of the cross-party committee he couldn't think of a better group of people to share his birthday with.

Video HERE

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 21 Oct 2008, 17:36

Is "Mandelson talks bollox" your observation of Mandelson in general, in which case maybe that warrants a thread of its own, or refering to the story in which case it should be "Financial Times talks bollox" surely.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 21 Oct 2008, 17:43

Night Tonic wrote:Is "Mandelson talks bollox" your observation of Mandelson in general, in which case maybe that warrants a thread of its own, or refering to the story in which case it should be "Financial Times talks bollox" surely.

Here is my tuppence worth:

1. Mandy has always talked bollox and IMO is a slimy slippery customer who has been sacked twice and I have no doubt he will be again.

2. Postman owns the site so he can call threads what he wants after all.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 21 Oct 2008, 17:47

All i will say is NEW LABOUR IN BED WITH THE TORY PARTY ON A YACHT WITH THE RUSSIAN!. Dont care about the drugs sex and rock and roll!. just the corruption in our land and thier of our beloved ROYALMAIL!. DON'T LET THE RUSSIAN OR ANYONE ELSE TAKE OVER OUR ROYALMAIL!.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 21 Oct 2008, 18:33

Night Tonic wrote:Is "Mandelson talks bollox" your observation of Mandelson in general, in which case maybe that warrants a thread of its own, or refering to the story in which case it should be "Financial Times talks bollox" surely.

The secretary of state for: Bribery Extortion and Ruthlessness and Recalcitrance.

axeman · Post by **axeman** » 21 Oct 2008, 18:42

POSTMAN wrote:http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Mande ... 4613015.jp

PETER Mandelson heightened speculation he backs part-privatisation of the Royal Mail today as he faced his first grilling from MPs after being made Business Secretary.
The newly-created life '''PEER''' said he was "not alarmed" by a report in the Financial Times that he told them his 1998 proposal to allow private sector stakes in the state-owned postal firm would have become law if he had remained in the Government.

-Mandelson-to-face-MPs-questions-over-economy-and-Royal-Mail-privatisation.html]HERE[/url]

Are you sure thats spelt corectly ???? should it not be with a 'q'

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 21 Oct 2008, 19:06

It beggars belief how this man and his chums have escaped prison. Look forward to more open barefaced corruption,something is very very wrong with our political system when unelected individuals are allowed to use public office to feather their own nests,blatantly and without fear of prosecution.
It just so happens that after enjoying a luxurious freebee the man in charge of European trade approves a decision that gifts his generous host £millions .
Looks like the Mafia is a lot more powerful than we all thought, and our legal system is bought and paid for

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 21 Oct 2008, 21:15

If postman can do as he likes, and nowt wrong with that, then so can Mandelson. Desperate times call for....er...Mandelson? I wouldn't buy a used car from Mandy thats for sure but still don't see the connection between headline and story.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 21 Oct 2008, 21:54

:mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 21 Oct 2008, 21:56

:mfo :mfo :mfo

Post by **plodsie** » 22 Oct 2008, 00:11

Does it really matter what he thinks? He and his cronies are out on their arse at the next election anyway. They would have to rush anything like this through. The House of Lords will always be a stumbling block for him as they along with the British public would not allow it to happen.

The thing for me is how he actually became a Lord, how much of a donation to Liebour did he make?

Also how much longer are the CWU going to support a party that obviously has nothing but contempt for it's membership and realise that the RM is anything but safe in their hands. DROP THE LINKS AND THE DONATIONS NOW!

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 22 Oct 2008, 14:38

Night Tonic wrote:If postman can do as he likes, and nowt wrong with that, then so can Mandelson. Desperate times call for....er...Mandelson? I wouldn't buy a used car from Mandy thats for sure but still don't see the connection between headline and story.

Except that Postman is a private citizen and Mandelson works for a democratically elected government, which in theory at least has to answer to the electorate.

One question in anyone can answer is Mandy an elected official in any capacity.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 22 Oct 2008, 15:32

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
Night Tonic wrote:If postman can do as he likes, and nowt wrong with that, then so can Mandelson. Desperate times call for....er...Mandelson? I wouldn't buy a used car from Mandy thats for sure but still don't see the connection between headline and story.
Except that Postman is a private citizen and Mandelson works for a democratically elected government, which in theory at least has to answer to the electorate.

One question in anyone can answer is Mandy an elected official in any capacity.

Thats maybe why he was made a lord upon his rentry into new labour!. LORD OF THE FlieS :mfo it's only a small lie :mfo

Post by **POSTMAN** » 22 Oct 2008, 17:41

Come on nighty,use this :mfo ..........ya know ya wanna.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 22 Oct 2008, 18:26

POSTMAN wrote:Come on nighty,use this :mfo ..........ya know ya wanna.

He will not bite the hand that feed's him will he?. But heres one from me :mfo