Gone native

Peter Mandelson certainly knows how to suck up to his new masters. In an interview today to Le Monde, to mark his first day as an EU commissioner, has insisted that the government declare a date by when the UK must join the euro.

He told the newspaper that he hoped the UK would seize the chance to join the euro as soon as conditions were right. "There is no prospect in the short term, but I hope the British government can set a target date for entry and that we can head into the euro with the agreement of the British people in a referendum."

Ten out of ten for little Mandy, and a gold star in his exercise book from Mr Barroso. And guess who has no chance of getting a Christmas card from Gordon?