Peter Mandelson was sent into exile in Europe following his inability to stay out of trouble in UK, this in spite of his closeness to then PM Tony Blair. Several attempts were made to reinstate him but reports of his personal property dealing and fiddles put paid to him. We all sighed with relief.
However an article by George Monbiot in today’s Guardian (26/8/2008) shows how he is dealing with trade. In particular fish stocks of poor nations are being plundered because European nations have not managed their own supplies. Demand far over reaches supply. Monbiot compares this to food famines caused by British colonial rule in India in the late nineteenth century when millions died after food stocks were plundered. The rulers, like Mandelson, themselves lived in comfort and style.