On Mandelson’s first resignation (23.12.98) Blair wrote to Prescott that New Labour was not ‘diminished’. It is now
Tony Blair to John Prescott on Mandelson’s first resignation. 28th December 1998
28th December 1998
I also think it’s very unhelpful if this issue is seen, in any sense, New Labour versus Old. Those who venture out on that agenda need to be fairly firmly slapped down since , in my view, the one thing that really would concern the public is if they thought New Labour had somehow gone or diminished with the departure of Peter Mandelson.
Mandelson borrowed £373,000 from another Minister Geoffrey Robinson to buy a Notting Hill house but didn’t declare the loan in the register of interests, a breach of Parliamentary ethics. Both Ministers resigned on 23rd December 1998.
Tony Benn noted in his Diary ‘Blair is terribly weakened’
The text is a note from Blair to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott released on 30th December 2021.
On 23rd February 2026 Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Justice will take its course but it is surely now the end of New Labour
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