Deckchairs on the Titanic?

Today marks an extraordinary day for Gordon Brown and his government with the re-appointment of Peter Mandelson to the Cabinet. As the country is crying out for answers and leadership in the face of the current financial crisis and following the Prime Minister's promise of an open and spin-free approach to government, he has turned to the twice-resigned, former spin doctor to revive his economic and political fortunes. This looks a desperate act from a desperate man.

In creating a new national economic committee, the Prime Minister claims to be "reinventing government". This is frankly bizarre. I believe the British people would simply settle for Gordon Brown managing the government as it stands and tackling the problems we face with clarity and purpose. Today is further evidence that Gordon Brown may know the questions we face as a nation but he has none of the answers.