Letter: Image problem

Sir: It goes without saying that everything Peter Mandelson does is carefully weighed in terms of public reaction and press effect. He used his interview with Donald Macintyre (14 August) to defend himself against accusations of being Mandelson the Manipulator and to present the "I'm just beavering away for the good of the nation" image.

This was bound to happen at some point. What's surprising is that he has had to do this after such a short time into Tony Blair's hoped-for two terms.

DAVID MUNGALL

Glasgow