It's a mess; and one we (the populace) are generally quite angry about. Mandelson was an MP but got disgraced and booted out some time back (I only vaguely rem

It's a mess; and one we (the populace) are generally quite angry about. Mandelson was an MP but got disgraced and booted out some time back (I only vaguely remember it). He's well known for being sleazy. Anyway somehow he's ended up a Lord; which means he is unelected. And then Gordon Brown gave him this cabinet position. The sum result of it is that one of the most powerful and influential people in our government is unelected :( So when people say he doesn't represent the UK Government what we really mean is he doesn't represent the elected government (you will find us brits tend to get vey mad about Mandelson :))