CITY VIEWS: SHOULD THE CONSERVATIVES TRY TO POACH PETER MANDELSON FROM LABOUR?
PAUL GROARKE HANOVER FINANCIAL
“Mandelson has a business brain, but not a political brain. He doesn’t have that warmth you need. The Conservatives need more Mandelson brains but not more Mandelsons. I would suggest you need more people in government who are business minded.”
STEVE SMITH BNP PARIBAS
“I don’t believe that you can trust anybody who could switch their allegiances so quickly in order to serve their own purposes. If he has got a shrewd business mind then he should make the transit into business and leave politics alone.”
RALPH LAWSON BRITISH ARAB COMMERCIAL BANK
“He is the comeback kid. I wouldn’t have too much of a problem with it – there are always people who are good on both sides of the political spectrum who may be useful. And, in this day and age business acumen is something everybody needs in government.”