HOW edifying to see the tabloid vultures and the Leader of the Opposition descend on the twitching corpse of the ex-Northern Ireland Secretary.
Political progress is not possible without go-betweens, and the Labour Party would still be bunkered in opposition if Peter Mandelson and his kind had not brokered a consensus. His stint as Northern Ireland Secretary was a brave attempt at dragging Ulster politicians out of their caves.
Mr Mandelson produced a new kind of Labour Party, and I would be the first to admit that I am not happy with all aspects of it. There are, however, a lot of very mediocre politicians crowing over Mandelson's demise, one of the least of which is William Hague.
British politics is the poorer for Peter Mandelson's departure, and I would not be averse to seeing his machinations put to a productive purpose again.
Andy Baldock.
Villa Grove,
Heworth Green, York.
Updated: 09:25 Saturday, January 27, 2001
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