[Youngian]

Sounds like they are backing Powell. Why not back Alison McGovern or Thornberry? Somebody being sacked and brought back as Deputy Leader is going to look ridiculous.

Who cares? Its just a milk monitor role to indulge party members. Doesn't even have any constitutional duties like the US Veep. And that job apparently isn't worth a bucket of warm spit.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Mandelson has been 'withdrawn' as ambassador on the PM's instructions. The change put down to the latest email revelations.

“The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.

“In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.

“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”

[Tubby Isaacs]

He might have handled Trump well but how he didn’t resign himself, God knows.

[Andy McDandy]

His best move now would be to retire, for good.

[Tubby Isaacs]

He’s 72 next month. I think we can safely assume this is his last political job, as the previous one should have been.

[Andy McDandy]

In all honesty, and I'm prepared to be corrected, I have never got what's supposed to be so special about him. Seems to be just another who goes around telling people how brilliant he is.

[mattomac]

I didn't think he was a bad choice but I think he should have been swiftly removed once stuff came out and he was talking about "more stuff like this", he won't be the last one to fall foul of this mind.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I didn't like the appointment because he has always been a liability. He seems to have done reasonably well with Trump, but so what? That's what professional ambassadors do all the time. Put in a career pro, and they'll understand how to treat Trump just as well.

[davidjay]

He’s 72 next month. I think we can safely assume this is his last political job, as the previous one should have been.

And the one before that.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Emily Thornberry drops out of Labour deputy leadership race

Well, "Gaza and Wealth Tax" went well as a pitch then. She wasn't helped by two Campaign Group MPs running, but even so, she did dreadfully. Serves her right for silly playing to the gallery. She was a decent "bruiser" in her time.

[Tubby Isaacs]

He’s 72 next month. I think we can safely assume this is his last political job, as the previous one should have been.

And the one before that.

Possibly, but he was actually pretty unlucky with the second resignation. All he did was ring up Mike O'Brien (the minister) about mention the Hinduja's passports. O'Brien couldn't even remember this "lobbying", and they didn't get the passports. I think by that stage Mandelson's profile was a major nuisance, and anyone else would have survived it.

[Boiler]

Mandelson's gone.

[Tubby Isaacs]

What's going on here?

I thought the order of the day was keep it in the ground. Now it's get it out of ground, even if we have to subsidize it?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... s-projects

Green energy entrepreneur calls on UK to subsidise North Sea oil and gas firms
Dale Vince urges ministers to ‘optimise’ resources in fossil fuel basin to help smooth transition to renewables