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Influential. Effective. Good news for government and country.
These are just some of the words and phrases we now know Douglas Alexander used to describe Peter Mandelson in what the SNP described as "gushing" WhatsApps to him around the time of the General Election in 2024.
From files released by the UK Government this week, we discovered Alexander credited Mandelson with helping him get selected as a Labour Party candidate in the 2024 General Election.
He said to Mandelson days after the General Election: "You probably don't realise quite how influential you've been in this whole improbable journey.
"From your initial encouragement two years ago this month 'Douglas… you're going to have to become all Laboury again!' to your quiet and effective support when Gordon came out for [redacted] in the selection… I won't forget any of it.
"And yes, of course I would value your counsel on trade. Hope we can speak soon. In gratitude and appreciation, Douglas."
If that wasn't enough to make his recent claim that Mandelson's appointment was a "mistake" seem hollow, the files show Alexander saying initially that the appointment was “good news for you, for government and for the country”.
We know Alexander and Mandelson go back a long time to the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown days and these messages confirm Alexander has continued to have a lot of respect for the man who has been exposed as having continued his relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein beyond his conviction.
Ex-Scottish secretary Ian Murray has also been exposed as having fawning over Mandelson given he said following his appointment as US ambassador: "Congratulations your excellency. What a wonderful appointment."
Alexander now has serious questions to answer: what did he know about Mandelson's ties to Epstein when he sent these messages? Does he regret sending them? Would he still value Mandelson's counsel? Did he seek any advice from Mandelson ahead of the Scottish election?
If Alexander was aware and he still maintained admiration for Mandelson, then how can we take his claim the appointment was a "mistake" seriously? After all, he did initially back Keir Starmer over the appointment and said Mandelson "did bring some very particular qualities to that job".
The SNP have called for Alexander to be sacked from his post following the "sycophantic" messages saying he has "brought shame on Scotland".
It has to be said that Alexander's message is one of the most cringe-worthy to come out of the files and just like he went into hiding following the Scottish election result, he seems to have done the same with this.
Morgan McSweeney was forced to resign as Starmer's chief of staff after his judgement was brought into question around the Mandelson appointment.
Alexander's judgement has also surely been brought in question in him saying he would "value" Mandelson's counsel.
If he has as much respect for the country he is tasked with serving as he did for Mandelson, he should be apologising and explaining these messages, given he is essentially saying he is back on the Labour frontbenches because of Mandelson.
But as with most things with this Labour government, I expect they'll wait for it all to just blow over.
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