History UsefulNotes / PeterMandelson

During the period when New Labour was in power under UsefulNotes/TonyBlair and more briefly UsefulNotes/GordonBrown, he always manoeuvred himself into positions of massive influence, simply by '''not''' wanting to have the top job. He was forced to resign twice for scandals that he was embroiled in (at least one of Mandelson's colleagues has said that he lost his judgment whenever "in the presence of rich men"), but he was such a useful figure that he ended up coming back.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson]], [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Baron Mandelson]] (of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham) [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever PC]]. Known as The Prince of Darkness, The Dark Lord, The Dark Prince, [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Mandelson]] ... [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[FluffyTheTerrible Mandy]]. While working hidden behind the scenes, he was largely responsible for his (previously losing) party's {{landslide|Election}} victory in 1997, updating its image to appeal to the electorate, and covertly running the campaign from a "tiny office with a three-legged chair, propped up by books".

During the period when the New Labour government was in power under UsefulNotes/TonyBlair and more briefly UsefulNotes/GordonBrown, he always manoeuvred himself into positions of massive influence, simply by '''not''' wanting to have the top job. He was forced to resign twice for scandals that he was embroiled in, but he was such a useful figure that he ended up coming back.

His last title while in government was [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard The Right Honourable the Baron Mandelson of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham, First Secretary of State, Lord President of the Privy Council and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills]]. This led to Creator/FrankieBoyle's memorable remark, "Who made him a Lord, the [[Franchise/StarWars Sith]]?!"

He took a seat in the Lords basically because everyone realised that there was hardly a constituency in the country that could be relied upon to elect him--not even Labour safe seats. Even after his party's eventual ''third-term defeat'' in 2010, people are still whispering rumours of his comeback, such is the power of the myth behind the man. And indeed, it was reported in 2021 that he had been appointed to advise Keir Starmer and the Shadow Cabinet on how to win the support of Big Business, in effect re-creating the New Labour coalition.

Along with the more overtly belligerent Creator/AlastairCampbell (a later addition to the team), one of New Labour's most prominent spin doctors.

Like UsefulNotes/BorisJohnson, whom he otherwise does not much resemble, a prime example of RealityIsUnrealistic.

Interestingly, Mandelson is also the grandson of Herbert Morrison, a prominent Labour cabinet minister of the 1940s.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson]], [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Baron Mandelson]][[labelnote:*]]Of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham.[[/labelnote]] [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever PC]]. Known as The Prince of Darkness, The Dark Lord, The Dark Prince, [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Mandelson]] and [[FluffyTheTerrible Mandy]]. While working hidden behind the scenes, he was largely responsible for his (''previously losing'') party's {{landslide|Election}} victory in 1997, updating its image to appeal to the electorate, and covertly running the campaign from a 'tiny office with a three-legged chair, propped up by books'.

While the 'New Labour' government was in power under UsefulNotes/TonyBlair and, to a lesser extent, UsefulNotes/GordonBrown, he always manoeuvred himself into positions of massive influence, simply by '''not''' wanting to have the top job. He was forced to resign twice for scandals that he was embroiled in, but he's such a useful figure that he always ends up coming back.

The second time he resigned, he became among the most powerful men in the EU Commission. When his tenure came to an end, the government brought him back yet again, and he ran the country behind the scenes, collecting titles and government departments to add to his power. The position he held meant nobody could question his political actions unless he allowed them.

* ''Film/TheDeal2003''
* ''Mo'', the Mo Mowlam biopic, notable for Julie Walters describing him to his face as a "complete shit".

None is entirely flattering -- as pointed out at some length in [[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article7015254.ece this review]], which suggests he tends to [[InsultToRocks come out badly by comparison]] with ''[[FindingJudas Judas Iscariot]]''.

Elements of his character are found in not one, not two, but ''three'' different characters on ''Series/TheThickOfIt'', with Malcolm Tucker being a combination of him and Creator/AlastairCampbell and Julius Nicholson and Steve Fleming being blends of Mandelson, Lord Adonis, and John Birt. Malcolm Tucker even at one point references the real Mandelson's sexual orientation. 'The 'tache is a bit of a giveaway.'

* Steve Fleming in ''Series/TheThickOfIt'' -- Malcolm Tucker even references the real Mandelson's sexual orientation. 'The 'tache is a bit of a giveaway.'

Elements of his character are found in not one, not two, but ''three'' different characters on ''Series/TheThickOfIt'', with Malcolm Tucker being a combination of him and Creator/AlastairCampbell and Julius Nicholson and Steve Fleming being blends of Mandelson, Lord Adonis, and John Birt.

* In the Alternatehistory.com timeline Literature/AroseFromOutTheAzureMain, writings from him appear under the pseudonym “Baron Liberia”.

Interestingly, Mandelson is also the grandson of Herbert Morrison, a prominent Labour cabinet minister of the 1940s. InTheBlood?

He took a seat in the Lords basically because everyone realised that there was hardly a constituency in the country that could be relied upon to elect him--not even Labour safe seats. Even after his party's eventual ''third-term defeat'' in 2010, people are still whispering rumours of his comeback, such is the power of the myth behind the man.

* In the {{Website/AlternateHistory.Com}} timeline Literature/AroseFromOutTheAzureMain, writings from him appear under the pseudonym “Baron Liberia”.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson]], [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Baron Mandelson]][[labelnote:*]]of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham[[/labelnote]] [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever PC]]. Known as The Prince of Darkness, The Dark Lord, The Dark Prince, [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Mandelson]] and [[FluffyTheTerrible Mandy]]. While working hidden behind the scenes, he was largely responsible for his (''previously losing'') party's victory in '97, updating its image to appeal to the electorate, and covertly running the campaign from a 'tiny office with a three-legged chair, propped up by books'.

While the Labour government was in power he always maneuvered himself into positions of massive influence, simply by '''not''' wanting to have the top job. He was forced to resign twice for scandals that he was embroiled in, but he's such a useful figure that he always ends up coming back.

His last title while in government was The Right Honourable the Baron Mandelson of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham, First Secretary of State, Lord President of the Privy Council and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. This led to Frankie Boyle's memorable remark, "Who made him a Lord, the Sith?!"

He took a seat in the Lords basically because everyone realised that there was hardly a constituency in the country that could be relied upon to elect him--not even Labour safe seats. Even after his party's eventual ''third term defeat'' in 2010, people are still whispering rumours of his comeback, such is the power of the myth behind the man.

! Examples of Peter Mandelson in Fiction:

* Steve Fleming in ''Series/TheThickOfIt'' - Malcolm Tucker even references the real Mandelson's sexual orientation. 'The 'tache is a bit of a giveaway.'

None are entirely flattering - as pointed out at some length in [[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article7015254.ece this review]], which suggests he tends to come out badly by comparison with ''[[FindingJudas Judas Iscariot]]''.

! Examples of tropes applied to Peter Mandelson in Media:

* He's played by Nigel Planer in "The Hunt for Tony Blair", a spoof film from ''Series/TheComicStripPresents'' which frames the major controversies of the Blair government as a 1950s Ealing Studios-style FilmNoir.
* The Channel 4 Drama "Coalition" (broadcast 28 March 2015) has him played by Creator/MarkGatiss. His first scene has him appearing through a cloud of dry ice.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson]], [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Baron Mandelson]][[labelnote:*]]of Foy in in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham[[/labelnote]] [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever PC]]. Known as The Prince of Darkness, The Dark Lord, The Dark Prince, [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Mandelson]] and [[FluffyTheTerrible Mandy]]. While working hidden behind the scenes, he was largely responsible for his (''previously losing'') party's victory in '97, updating its image to appeal to the electorate, and covertly running the campaign from a 'tiny office with a three-legged chair, propped up by books'.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson]], [[KnightFever Baron Mandelson]][[labelnote:*]]of Foy in in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham[[/labelnote]] [[KnightFever PC]]. Known as The Prince of Darkness, The Dark Lord, The Dark Prince, [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Mandelson]] and [[FluffyTheTerrible Mandy]]. While working hidden behind the scenes, he was largely responsible for his (''previously losing'') party's victory in '97, updating its image to appeal to the electorate, and covertly running the campaign from a 'tiny office with a three-legged chair, propped up by books'.

His last title while in government was The Right Honourable the Baron Mandelson of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham, First Secretary of State, Lord President of the Privy Council and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He took a seat in the Lords basically because everyone realised that there was hardly a constituency in the country that could be relied upon to elect him--not even Labour safe seats. Even after his party's eventual ''third term defeat'' in 2010, people are still whispering rumours of his comeback, such is the power of the myth behind the man.

* The Channel 4 Drama "Coalition" (broadcast 28 March 2015) has him played by [[Mark Gatiss]]. His first scene has him appearing through a cloud of dry ice.

* ''Film/TheDeal''

See also portrayals on: