Mandelson warns Brown he risks electoral defeat

In the UK one of the architects of New Labour, Peter Mandelson, has warned that Prime Minister Gordon Brown risks losing power unless he identifies himself more clearly with the principles which won Tony Blair three general elections.

Mr Mandelson said that the scrapping of the 10p income tax rate was “a very big mistake” which breached the New Labour tenet that the Government should help the poorest and neediest in society.