News that Sir Keir Starmer is looking to appoint the “Prince of Darkness” in order to inject a dose of New Labour’s winning mentality has caused quite a stir on social media, with people voicing their dismay at the attempts to “recreate ’97”.
According to reports in The Times Lord Mandelson will re-join Labour ranks in a bid to “shed light on how to move beyond the electorally toxic Jeremy Corbyn years and broaden the party’s appeal”.
Tony Blair’s former strategist will help craft a message that it is hoped will win the keys to No 10 as well as offer advice on Brexit and how to woo big business as the party prepares to unveil an “unashamedly pro-business agenda” with a commitment to individual prosperity, growth and wealth creation.
Starmer is also believed to speak regularly to Gordon Brown and has reached out to Tony Blair on a “handful” of occasions, according to sources close to him.
It comes as he plans to launch a “prawn cocktail offensive” with potential wealthy donors as they “warm to the party again”, with money “rolling back in” from big wig suiters.
But reaction on social media has been far more divided, with people warning against a return to the politics of 1997.
We’ve picked out a selection of the response so far below:
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