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The PM comes to terms with Peter Mandelson

• Mark Mardell
• 13 Mar 08, 07:06 PM

Gordon Brown, in an eco-friendly mood, travelled to the summit by train.

You can see his interview with me about climate change and his VAT proposals, and why he thinks its appropriate the tax is handled at a European level by clicking here.

I also had the chance to ask him about the future of the British commissioner, his old pal and ally (no, I jest) Peter Mandelson.

Some time ago, in the job ( with the Parliament in 2009).

Reliable sources tell me he came off a plane tired and was confronted by journalists who had the story that Gordon Brown wanted to sack him.

His immediate and unconsidered reaction was that he had other things to do and didn’t want another term. He has spoken to the Prime Minister who asked him why he didn’t want it and what his intentions were.

Mr Mandelson’s view is that it's too early to make a decision and that the discussion can be had next year. It's this view that was reflected in newspaper stories at the weekend.

So I asked Mr Brown about it all. β€œMr Mandelson has said he doesn’t want to become the next commissioner, but he wants to do only one term," he said.

"But Peter Mandelson has done a great job as a commissioner.

"I talk to him regularly about what we can do about trade. He is leading negotations to get a trade agreement and I will be talking to him about how to move that forward.”

But, I persisted, what if he had changed his mind, : would he back him and give him the job?

β€œI haven’t seen those reports. But I think its important to say he’s done a great job as a commissioner. And of course it's his wish that he wishes to do something else - but the important thing that we know is that we are proud of what he has achieved for Britain”.

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