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Brown must let voters get to know him, says Mandy
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent01.10.08
Peter Mandelson voiced his fears over the state of Labour and called on Gordon Brown to open up to voters.
The EU Trade Commissioner told The New Statesman how he left Labour's conference last week having "never felt such a sense of urgency for the Labour party to think through how it's going to win the next election".
Labour needs to end its "paralysis" and broaden its appeal to more than just its core vote, he said.
He spoke out against fatalism that his party had already lost the next general election.
He said Labour needed a "harder edge," and warned against trying to "split the difference between the old Left and new Labour" as an election strategy.
Mr Mandelson, an arch rival to the Prime Minister, told the Left-wing magazine: "The reason why Gordon's speech at conference was a success was that it opened more of a window onto Gordon Brown.
"The public wants to feel a connection, a personal one, with their prime ministers. They know he has a full head of policy ideas and experience. But they also want to know more about him."
Mr Mandelson may disappoint Mr Brown's critics by not launching a major attack on him. "I do not think changing the face at the top is the panacea some imagine," he said.
Reader views (9)
There will be a "connection" at the next election, mainly between the electorates foot and the liebour party's backside.
- Steve, london
Yes we know MacBroone Commissioner, we know what he and his scottish cabal at Westminster have done to our country, and especially what they have spitefully done to England and it's people.
They will never win another General election in this country ever.
- Jane, Tower Hamlets, England.
What's there to open up. We all know he is a empty shell.
There is certainly no spine to be found. He stabbed Blair in the back (Good, not hard enough though)so he won't hesitate to do anything to the electorate.
- Alec, West London
We like him, about as much as you Mandy.
You a fraudtser with your dodgy mortgage etc, and of course the ex cnacellor, or as many know him The Man Who Stole The Pensions!!
Need we say more?
- N Grinsell, London
First Alistair Campbell, now Mandy. How many more superannuated Blairites are getting their nose where the sun don't shine.
- Michael, brightlingsea england
We all hate him!!
- Mark A, london england
The problem is that we do know him, and we don't like what we see.
- Stephen Burgwin, Birmingham, UK
Better that he would open his veins (figuratively politically - of course)!
- Rogan, DFW TX
Only an EU Commissioner could come out with such twaddle. We do know Brown, Commissioner, and are distinctly not keen on him.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
