New Labour was hit by a new row about Mr Peter Mandelson yesterday. A leaked memo claimed he was the key player in winning the party leadership for Mr Tony Blair after the death of John Smith, "deceptively" persuading the then shadow chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown, to stand down.
Cabinet ministers are said to have called for the sacking of Mr Brown's press aide, Mr Charlie Whelan, for leaking stories about Mr Mandelson, including the home-loan story which led to the former Trade Secretary's resignation just before Christmas.