Where Mandy goes, trouble follows

The Mail reports that Mandy is at the centre of a 'favours for friends' row over the controversial proposals to expand Heathrow:

Details emerged of the extraordinary access the Business Secretary's close acquaintance Roland Rudd  -  who represents airport operator BAA  -  had to the top tiers of Government.

Mr Rudd, the City's most powerful PR, or his company Finsbury Ltd met with ministers at least five times in ten days in the run-up to Labour's unpopular decision to go ahead with plans for a third runway, and once a few months earlier.

and

MPs have demanded Gordon Brown orders a top-level investigation amid concern that BAA was able to crush the green lobby opposing airport expansion by exploiting an intricate network of contacts within the Government.

Some hope!

then

Sources close to Lord Mandelson said he had 'never spoken to Mr Rudd about the third runway'. They insisted the Business Secretary had not helped set up meetings for Finsbury with transport ministers.

The sources would say that, wouldn't they.

This is further perception of Mandy’s relationship with his rich and not so famous friends, and their influence within the Government.  It is hardly going to help him as he attempts to convince Labour MPs to back the part-privatisation of the Royal Mail.