How Campbell and Mandy tried to knife Red Ed

Two of the loudest voices in the Labour Party calling for Jeremy Corbyn to go have been Lord Mandelson and Alastair Campbell.

Now it can be revealed the high priests of political spin also unsuccessfully moved against Corbyn’s predecessor Red Ed Miliband.

Mandelson, who resigned twice in disgrace from Tony Blair’s Cabinet, and Campbell, who was Blair’s communications chief, both begged former Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson to challenge the failing Miliband.

In public, two-faced Mandelson was loyal, describing Red Ed as ‘principled and determined’ and dismissing rumours he had tried to force him out as ‘complete rubbish’.

But the truth is revealed in Inside Story, by political journalist Philip webster. Contrary to their denials, Mandy and Campbell intervened after Miliband made a mess (again) of his party conference speech in September 2014, by forgetting to mention the budget deficit.

A desperate Mandelson, according to webster, said to Johnson: ‘Alan, a lot of people want to know if you are prepared to become leader in the event of Ed losing a vote of confidence.’

Johnson replied: ‘The public would never wear a change of leadership so close to a general election.’ Mandelson: ‘Alan you would be blown away by the sigh of relief coming from voters who don’t like Cameron and the Tories, but are also worried about Ed. You would take the party with you.’

Johnson, then 64, said: ‘I can’t do it. At this stage of my life I’m not sure it’s right for me.’

Campbell, according to the book, tried twice to persuade Johnson to plunge the knife into the hapless Miliband. So next time Mandy and Campbell criticise Corbyn, he can dismiss them as a pair of serial, unelected, lying, failed plotters.