According to Lord Mandelson in October 2009 the then Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown held a meeting with his cabinet colleagues in which they discussed possible strategies for the forthcoming 2010 General Election.
The talk turned to coining a pithy, easily remembered slogan that would clearly identify everything Labour stood for.
Brown’s deputy, Harriet Harman, brightly suggested the theme of Future, Family and Fairness, positive buzzwords that could be bracketed together as the three Fs.
Other ministers, battle scarred veterans of Brown’s shambolic government with a more realistic understanding of how much the UK public despised the political class in general and the Labour party in particular, believed that three Fs would indeed provide an appropriate encapsulation – but they had different words in mind.
Futile said election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander.
Finished was offered by Lord Mandelson himself.
As Gordon Brown glowered and Harriet Harman fidgeted uncomfortably all eyes turned to Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, the man who had tried to warn Brown about the risks of increasing the deficit.
Fucked declared Mr Darling.
Which neatly summarised the degree of confidence the Labour ministers had in their leader…..
