Faces from the very early days of New Labour are now back to the fore. Nick Brown returning to the post of chief whip. Peter Mandelson in the post of business secretary once again. Margaret Beckett as housing minister (I can reveal). Even Derek Draper is knocking around Labour headquarters once again.
No doubt it’s meant to represent solidarity – and silence Blairite critics within the government. But to the public, it may smack of retreat.


Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey

