MORE toe-curling messages between Lord Mandelson and a minister have emerged despite Labour insisting all relevant material was published.
Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones is seen criticising colleagues, moaning about unions and discussing changing jobs.
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More embarrassing messages have emerged between Peter Mandelson and a Labour minister Credit: PA
Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones is seen criticising colleagues, moaning about unions and discussing changing jobs Credit: Alamy
One exchange came on the day Sir Keir Starmer sacked Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.
Mr Jones grovelled: “You’ve been doing such a great job, and you worked wonders with Trump.
“I’m so sorry about today.”
He also sought advice after hearing “reshuffle chatter”.
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Asked which jobs he fancied, Mr Jones replied: “DBT [Business and Trade], DSIT [Science, Innovation and Technology] or DESNZ [Energy Security and Net Zero] in that order.”
Discussing talks over Port Talbot steelworks, Mr Jones said Business Department advisers repeatedly took a different tack as “that’s what the unions want”.
After Labour grandee Mandy said growth was in the hands of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, then-Deputy PM Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Mr Jones replied: “It doesn’t fill you with confidence.”
Downing Street has this week faced cover-up claims after it emerged the PM and Chancellor use WhatsApp’s disappearing messages function, meaning some Mandelson exchanges were lost.
Shadow Minister Alex Burghart said it “beggars belief” there was so little evidence of the PM’s involvement in Mandelson’s appointment.
