It was Mandelson who Balls it up for Ed

New rumour is that Gordon Brown didn’t actually decide to keep Alistair Darling in place until this morning and that an early morning conversation with Peter Mandelson swung it.

That won’t do much for Mandelson/Balls relations, which had been patched up since Lord Mandelson’s return to government.

Ed Balls will be feeling frustrated that his hopes of moving into No. 11 have been frustrated by two Blairites – one working with Gordon Brown, one quitting the Cabinet.

A little comforted – perhaps – if his wife Yvette Cooper moves up the Cabinet table to take over Health, perhaps.

One last rumour: David Blunkett could be back in, replacing either Hazel Blears or James Purnell.

Blairites quitting only to be replaced by Blairites enormously reduces the potency of the Blears/Purnell actions.