When Peter Mandelson left Government the last time, it was with a deep and unresolved resignation – he hadn’t achieved what he had set out to achieve. There was also widespread sympathy amongst those “in the know” that he had perhaps been pushed too early and too hard by a crisis avoidant Alastair Campbell. Campbell himself later came to recognise that his dismissal of Mandelson had been a hammer to crack a nut….However, Mandelson had the last laugh – the only other world figure produced by this Labour Government, and British politics of the last decade was Tony Blair himself – and that possibly includes George Robertson’s stint as Nato DG.Thus – Secretary for Business, in the dying days of a winged Labour Administration, is nothing other than a demotion – even if one self inflicted.The lesson for business leaders is clear – don’t let vanity and the personal need to re-write history deflect you from an otherwise clear and successful strategic move. Let alone one that has reaped significant advantages already and has yet to run its (likely more fruitful) course…
MERCIAR BUSINESS CONSULTING 