Mandelson is in charge – by BlackBerry

Published on Friday 7 August 2009 22:05

WITH a seat on 35 Cabinet government committees, an unofficial role as an embattled prime minister's political minder and even being forced to deal with an attack by a custard-wielding protester, Lord Mandelson is no stranger to multi-tasking in his role as First Secretary of State.

But he has now taken this skill to a new level by stepping into Gordon Brown's shoes and running the country – by BlackBerry while on holiday in Corfu.

Lord Mandelson – who is increasingly being viewed as the power behind the Prime Minister – is filling in for Mr Brown while he is on holiday.

Rather than playing at being a leader in waiting, the Business Secretary is being described as a leader in exile, as he monitors political developments from Greece.

But a Number 10 insider insisted "the Prime Minister is still in charge" and added that "he has his finger on the nuclear button".

The source said the "heavy lifting" was being shared between Commons Leader Harriet Harman, Lord Mandelson, Chancellor Alistair Darling and Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

"One person does most of the heavy lifting during the week, but they all help out. It is not like there is some handover ceremony with the changing of the guard and Harriet gives way to Peter (Lord Mandelson]."

The source added: "Most of (the job] is about making a few phone calls and sending the odd e-mail. Jack Straw was on holiday when he made the decision about Ronnie Biggs."

Ms Harman, Labour's deputy leader, filled in for Mr Brown last week and created panic among party insiders when she appeared to use her turn in the limelight to launch a mini-manifesto. But she curtailed her ambitions to fly to Italy this weekend.

Lord Mandelson's approach for the first few days will be hands-off: he is not back in London until lunchtime on Monday .

The peer has not been put off Corfu by the controversy that followed his last visit there, when he met Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska on a yacht. Also at the meeting was shadow chancellor George Osborne, who later claimed Lord Mandelson had "dripped poison" about Mr Brown.

Lord Mandelson was seen boarding an Easyjet flight to Corfu this week. Observers said he was on his BlackBerry device until the last possible minute.

It is understood he is staying at the villa of financier Nathaniel Rothschild.