Few politicians would challenge the contention that Gordon Brown’s decision to bring back Peter Mandelson was a masterstroke that has helped to sustain him in office.

On the night that James Purnell’s shock resignation put Mr Brown’s premiership in great peril, it was Lord Mandelson who rang the other Blairites, including David Miliband, to make sure that they would not follow suit. And it was the Business Secretary who steadied the ship in the days that followed.

It is known that he talked to former ministers such as Hazel Blears to dissuade them from rocking the boat further.

Tony Blair always said that the new Labour project would be completed when the Labour Party had learnt to love Mr Mandelson.

So it raised a big laugh at the critical Parliamentary Labour Party meeting towards the end of the crisis when Geraldine Smith, a serial rebel, said: “Something very strange happened to me on Sunday morning as I watched Andrew Marr. I started to love Peter Mandelson." Lord Mandelson, who was standing next to Mr Brown, blew her a kiss.

In his interview with The Times Mr Brown wryly observed the value of the man who has again become a good friend.

Asked whether Labour now loved Lord Mandelson, he said: “Peter is doing an excellent job. He has shown it was a good decision to invite him to come back from Brussels and join the Government.”

Mr Brown said that he was not surprised how well the relationship was working. Lord Mandelson, as First Secretary of State, is now effectively his deputy. “We are working together in a common cause,” he said.

Asked whether on the night of Mr Purnell’s resignation he feared that it might be the end, Mr Brown said firmly: “No. I was always and am always going to get on with the job I have set myself.”

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