Mandelson: We are damaged by spin

Former Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson admitted today Labour's record in government had been "patchy" because of its obsession with spin.

The former Northern Ireland Secretary claimed ministers had "just tinkered" and failed to achieve real reforms in key public services. He took another big stride to dump his image as a New Labour control freak in an updated version of his book, the Blair Revolution.

He claimed Transport Secretary Stephen Byers's former spin doctor, Jo Moore, who suggested 11 September was a good day to "bury" bad news, should have been sacked instantly.

He owned up to his share of responsibility in the Dome fiasco saying its visual embodiment of New Labour had been "damaging".

Mr Mandelson claimed that after coming to power in 1997, New Labour had relied too much on techniques it had perfected in opposition. Because of this, "real delivery proved patchy" leading to a lack of public engagement between ministers and deprived communities.