ANY celebration by Tony cabinet team will have been curtailed by the news that their every move will be snooped upon by the Rasputin at the court of New Labour, Peter Mandelson.
As "Minister without Portfolio" he will have constant 'swipe card' access to Blair's office, and will also be peering suspiciously over the shoulders of ministers to make doubly sure that nothing is said or done which might connict with the narrow ambitions of New LaFrom the Jimmy Saville of the campaign, "Fixing it" with the media, he will have no clearly-defined role or responsibility. Columnists are already drawing unfavourable paraliels between his post and that of George Nigg, who managed to antagonise many of Harold Wilson's ministers in the 1960s.
Among the other appointments, perhaps the biggest groan would be drawn by the news that Harriet Harman, who argned Blair's hard line against restoring the link between pensions and average conference, isto be Social Security Secretary - inf charge of pensions and She has lost no time in spelling out her mission to be mean with the country's most deprived citizens, and will be reinforced in her tight-fisted policies by the appointment of arch-right winger Frank Field as junior minister.
Other ominous straws in the wind include the appointment of Jack "Jail 'em' Straw as Home Secretary, and David "Blame the teachers" Blunkett to Education and Employment.
Allegedly "free spending" Chris Smith moved sideways and down from the Health Secretary post he had been shadowing, in favour of Frank Dobson, who has spent much of the last nine months telling councils they cannot expect any more cash for services under Labour. 18 CRUEL years of singleMajor's six years included the