Does this make Mandy into a leadership candidate?
Should you be taking the 50/1 on him getting the job?
At the start of the year I took out a bet at 200/1 with Ladbrokes that Peter Mandelson would be Prime Minister on December 31st 2009.
This always seemed remote because Mandy took a life peerage last October which would make it impossible for him to sit again in the house of commons.
But late last night the above story appeared in the FT which goes on:-
“On Monday Jack Straw, justice secretary, will publish a revamped constitutional reform bill which includes a provision for life peers to resign from the House of Lords. Lord Mandelson may note that he would be allowed to keep his title.
Mr Straw argues that some peers may be too sick or otherwise unable to perform their parliamentary duties and should be given the option of stepping down. The bill should be in force before the election.
Tackled on the subject, Lord Mandelson said: “The legislation has to get on to the statute book. I’m not anticipating any change for myself. Goodbye.”
Now the timetable on my bet might look a bit tight so I’ve just taken out another wager with Ladbrokes at 50/1 that Mandy will be the next Labour leader whenever the change takes place.
These machinations, surely, are being orchestrated for the man who was twice sacked by Tony Blair.
Get your money on – it’s worth a punt at these prices.
0100 Betting Update: Ladbrokes have now stopped taking bets on Mandelson. You can still get 33/1 with William Hill but the most they would let me put on was £15.