By SIMON WALTERS, POLITICAL EDITOR Peter Mandelson forced Gordon Brown to throw Cabinet Minister Shaun Woodward out of his No10 office in a bitter power struggle in the Prime Minister’s inner circle. The peer reacted furiously when Mr Brown invited him to a meeting about tactics for combating David Cameron. To the astonishment of Mr Brown and Ulster Secretary Mr Woodward, Lord Mandelson refused to take part in the confidential talks until his Cabinet colleague was ejected. Friction: Lord Mandelson, left, is said to resent Shaun Woodward, right Mr Brown meekly agreed and a humiliated Mr Woodward walked out, leaving Lord Mandelson and the Prime Minister to speak alone. The disclosure is the latest evidence of the simmering tensions in Mr Brown’s kitchen Cabinet. Labour insiders have told The Mail on Sunday that there is considerable resentment at the way former Tory MP Mr Woodward is now among Mr Brown’s closest confidants. Lord Mandelson’s view of Mr Woodward’s skills as a political tactician is said to border on contempt. And, significantly, he has found a powerful ally in his former Labour foe, Schools Secretary Ed Balls, the third member of Mr Brown’s No10 ‘troika’. Mr Balls shares Lord Mandelson’s low opinion of Mr Woodward’s abilities – and is equally determined to downgrade his influence. ‘Shaun will not find it easy to survive with Peter and Ed against him,’ said one insider. ‘They believe the advice he offers lacks any perception. ‘He states the obvious and describes the problems, but offers little by way of solving them. 'Peter and Ed have known Gordon for a very long time; Shaun is an interloper.’ The fall-out between Lord Mandelson and Mr Woodward is all the more surprising bearing in mind their close friendship forged when Mr Woodward defected from the Conservative Party in 1999. Lord Mandelson played a crucial part in persuading Mr Woodward to ditch his own Party in a series of meetings with him. Furthermore, in 2001, Lord Mandelson stayed at Mr Woodward’s £4million Georgian mansion in Westminster while his own house was being decorated. Multi-millionaire Mr Woodward is married to Camilla Sainsbury, of the Sainsbury supermarket family. But the friendship between Lord Mandelson and Mr Woodward has come under strain as both men compete jealously for access to Mr Brown. After becoming Prime Minister in 2007, while Lord Mandelson was a European Commissioner in Brussels, Mr Brown came to rely heavily on former That’s Life! TV producer Mr Woodward’s advice. Mr Woodward took advantage of the disarray in Mr Brown’s close circle and is said to have modelled himself on Lord Mandelson, prompting some to describe him as a ‘mini Mandy’. He sits at Mr Brown’s side during Question Time in the Commons, constantly whispering advice and encouragement in his ear. However, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson’s Cabinet comeback last year led to a dramatic change in the balance of power inside Downing Street. He quickly established himself as the most important figure both in the real Cabinet and the kitchen Cabinet. He took charge of the recent Cabinet reshuffle, securing the post of Deputy Prime Minister in all but name and has boasted privately that he has a new ‘economic super ministry’ to rival the Treasury. Furthermore, he immediately set about establishing his seniority over Mr Woodward as Mr Brown’s most senior confidant. Lord Mandelson ‘spies’ on the pair in the Commons from a seat in the Peers Gallery above the debating chamber. Similarly, he demanded – and obtained – the right to have private meetings with Mr Brown, with Mr Woodward excluded. Another source of friction concerns reports that Labour plans to model its election tactics on those used successfully by John Major when he came from behind to defeat Neil Kinnock in 1992. Former Tory communications chief Mr Woodward was one of the Conservative advisers who persuaded Mr Major to campaign on a ‘Labour tax bombshell’ platform. Mr Mandelson was one of the Labour election officials who claimed the allegation was a lie. Mr Woodward is understood to have urged Mr Brown to campaign on a ‘Tory cuts bombshell’ platform against David Cameron. But some Ministers are bitterly opposed to the idea. ‘Because it worked in 1992 does not mean it will work in 2010,’ said one. ‘If Shaun has new ideas relevant here and now, let us hear them.’ Asked if Lord Mandelson had ordered Mr Woodward to leave Mr Brown’s office, a spokesman for the peer said: ‘Peter does not recognise this version of events. He has known Shaun for many years. He knows Shaun’s many strengths and what he has to offer.’ A spokeswoman for Mr Woodward would only say: ‘Shaun has known Peter extremely well for more than 18 years and holds him in the highest regard.’'I'm not talking to you until he leaves': Mandelson forces Brown to throw Shaun Woodward out of No10 office
Last updated at 10:34 PM on 04th July 2009
Sunday, 5 July 2009
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