I have an interesting snippet from this afternoon's briefing from Number 10 ...
Following reports today that Gordon Brown has asked Peter Mandelson if he would like to serve a second term as the UK's European commissioner, the PM's official spokesman was asked if the prime minister thought his old foe was doing a good job.
"The prime minister has no difficulty with the job Peter Mandelson has done," came the reply.
Pressed further, the spokesman added: "He thinks - I think the prime minister would be quite comfortable for me to say - that Peter Mandelson is doing a good job."
Contrast that with the prime minister's comments about the Commons speaker, Michael Martin, ("Michael Martin is a very, very good speaker"), or his response to the prospect of Tony Blair becoming EU president. ("Tony Blair would be a great candidate for any significant international job. The work he is doing in the Middle East is of huge international importance.")
Perhaps old habits really do die hard.
