If you believe Peter Mandelson, and probably that is 50/50, then Labour Ministers expected to lose the General Election on May 6th.

But whilst it is perhaps surprising to hear Mandelson say as such, it does all fit together with what we know followed the result.

It’s on the record that Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems always made clear that in the event of a hung parliament then we would try and negotiate with the largest party first, which of course we did. But what has always bugged me is the failure to make any progress with the brief negotiation with Labour.

Putting aside the difficulties faced with building a rainbow coalition including natonalists etc, I was amazed that Labour weren’t more keen to try and achieve concensus. But in light of the Mandelson memoirs we now see a party resigned to defeat, to replacing Gordon Brown AND when you add to the mix the cuts to public services even Labour  publicly admitted were necessary if they won, then it really is no surprise that they didn’t have the stomach for it.

Much easier to regroup, refresh and in the meantime hurl bricks from the sidelines. It is not only cynical but the worst type of self interest politics. Labour knew what was coming but didn’t want to deal with it.