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| Mandelson e-mails list PM's flaws | Mandelson e-mails list PM's flaws |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| E-mails sent by Lord Mandelson which portray Gordon Brown as insecure, self-conscious and "angry" have emerged in a Sunday newspaper. | E-mails sent by Lord Mandelson which portray Gordon Brown as insecure, self-conscious and "angry" have emerged in a Sunday newspaper. |
| They suggest the PM could better use his time creating policy, rather than "telling people you watch X-Factor". | They suggest the PM could better use his time creating policy, rather than "telling people you watch X-Factor". |
| The e-mails, revealed in the Mail on Sunday, were sent in January 2008 before Lord Mandelson returned to the cabinet as business secretary. | The e-mails, revealed in the Mail on Sunday, were sent in January 2008 before Lord Mandelson returned to the cabinet as business secretary. |
| His spokesman said they had been taken out of context. | His spokesman said they had been taken out of context. |
| Earlier this week, Lord Mandelson urged Labour MPs not to sign a letter calling on Mr Brown to resign as prime minister. | Earlier this week, Lord Mandelson urged Labour MPs not to sign a letter calling on Mr Brown to resign as prime minister. |
| What Peter Mandelson was saying is that Gordon Brown should just be himself Lord Mandelson's spokesman Brown focused on 'task in hand' | What Peter Mandelson was saying is that Gordon Brown should just be himself Lord Mandelson's spokesman Brown focused on 'task in hand' |
| Publication of the e-mails comes at the end of a bitter week for the prime minister, in which he has seen Labour heavily defeated in local elections, the resignation of senior cabinet colleagues and growing calls for his resignation. | Publication of the e-mails comes at the end of a bitter week for the prime minister, in which he has seen Labour heavily defeated in local elections, the resignation of senior cabinet colleagues and growing calls for his resignation. |
| The Mail on Sunday said the e-mails were originally sent to former Labour spin doctor Derek Draper. | The Mail on Sunday said the e-mails were originally sent to former Labour spin doctor Derek Draper. |
| 'Uncomfortable' | 'Uncomfortable' |
| Mr Draper was recently embroiled in the controversy over plans by ex-Downing Street assistant Damian McBride to smear leading Conservative politicians. | Mr Draper was recently embroiled in the controversy over plans by ex-Downing Street assistant Damian McBride to smear leading Conservative politicians. |
| In the e-mails, Lord Mandelson writes that Mr Brown should "be himself". | |
| But he adds: "This is not a substitute for policy formulation and taking well-prepared, well-ordered decisions." | But he adds: "This is not a substitute for policy formulation and taking well-prepared, well-ordered decisions." |
| Describing the prime minister, he said: "He is a self-conscious person, physically and emotionally... not as comfortable in his own skin as Tony [Blair - his predecessor] was." | Describing the prime minister, he said: "He is a self-conscious person, physically and emotionally... not as comfortable in his own skin as Tony [Blair - his predecessor] was." |
| Lord Mandelson's spokesman said: "This e-mail was sent over a year ago in response to suggestions that Gordon Brown needed to change his image. | Lord Mandelson's spokesman said: "This e-mail was sent over a year ago in response to suggestions that Gordon Brown needed to change his image. |
| "What Peter Mandelson was saying is that Gordon Brown should just be himself, artificiality doesn't work in politics and that what he is and what he stands for - and the policies he is pursuing - should be allowed to speak for themselves. | "What Peter Mandelson was saying is that Gordon Brown should just be himself, artificiality doesn't work in politics and that what he is and what he stands for - and the policies he is pursuing - should be allowed to speak for themselves. |
| "He maintains this view." | "He maintains this view." |