Starmer's vision quest

[briantrumpet]

Mandleson's track record showed he used his manipulative/deceptive skills to further his personal gain, everything else irrelevant. Did something convince Starmer that Mandleson was a reformed character?

I don't think he wanted a reformed character, he wanted someone who could play Trump. But, as I say, I don't think it was a totally unreasonable assumption that Mandelson wouldn't shaft Starmer (and thus the Labour Party) and the UK.

I don't know what sort of person you would have appointed to play Trump at his own game, but there were lots of commentators, from left and right, who thought that Mandelson was a good choice *despite* his known behaviour.