Poor Peter, glad he’s getting some sympathetic coverage

[Warmlover]

From The Times. He’s just a guy who’s had some bad luck after all!

I assumed it was a joke too. Astonishing to find out it’s real. 🙈

Anyone else think that Trump was mocking Mandelson at the oval office 9 months ago when he complimented him on his accent?
He must have known that Mandelson would be utterly humilated by the release of the Epstein files back then. The handshake is like Judas Iscariot kissing Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BkrwAYJDns

The copy is clearly written post this weeks ‘revelations.’ So it’s not a hangover from an early printing. They have consciously decided to put a cosy picture of Mandy on their front cover blaming bad luck for his hideous decisions.

Bad luck? Bad fucking luck? I hope they lock him up and throw away the key.

I don't. Because Trump doesn't think there is anything wrong with what he and Mandy did. He probably enjoys getting away with it and he's canny enough to know he needs to avoid getting into trouble for it. But I doubt he would have the foresight to know that in a years time UK public anger would bring down Mandleson.
He's cunning in his own evil way. But not to the "3d chess" level that sort of foresight would require.
He's very solipsistic so everythings a reflection on him. If he's smirking at Mandleson it's because his ego has found something to feed on.

So the print version of today’s magazine is different to the oneline one in the app? Am I correct (possibly being thick).Cos I cant see it in the app thankfully

Trump did put him in his place. PM went on and on, and Trump clearly felt bored and patronised, he didn’t like some lowly Mandelson to act as if he is superior. I rather think Mandleson is too big for his boots and his mansplaining dull speech showed a lack of reading the room and political nous.

Noteworthy too how Mandelson is emphasising the 'technology' partnership between the US and UK.

It's all sleaze central.

Inside today’s Times there’s an explanation, the article went to press before all the revelations, I don’t suppose that they wanted to pulp all the magazines.

But it's clear that it's a quote from Mandelson himself. That is what journalism is about. Record and report the words of the person that is being interviewed.

And editing and cover design is ALL about semiotics. Of the many possible quotes and photographs they selected this juxtaposition.

You surely must know that journalism and publishing is always framing a situation in an intended and controlled manner. Just ask yourself what the connotations and message is here. I read the cover to signal look here is the harmless and misunderstood Peter Mandelson standing by his purple aga in his elite country kitchen cooking a breakfast eggs in a pseudo relaxed manner (😆)

The unwilling dog that had to be bribed with treats connotes loyalty, steadiness and emotional warmth. It says that whatever we think of his politics PM is a trustworthy gent.

This staged domesticity is trying to suggest that Mandelson’s daily life proceeds uninterrupted. He is unruffled, unburdened, with nothing to feel anxious or guilty about. The implication is that the public moral outrage is exaggerated, even beside the point. The publishers are content to present him as a figure of the British elite whose self confidence and composure arrogance is designed to outlast the scandal.

It also looks utterly fake. Twats.

Journalism is not about that. It’s should not be about platforming rich criminals. And paying them handsomely for the privilege. I don’t want to hear what PM says because he is an individual under investigation for serious crimes against the country and heavily implicated in a child sex ring. Just like I don’t want to hear what Gary Glitter thinks. Or any of these other revolting men.

I think it can best be characterised as rage bait

They even reference him asking to see the photos and worrying about how he looks in them to the photographer/reporter. The "loyal dog" looks as you say, completely unwilling/like it's been bribed (hah). The whole thing looks like a parody of a "politician tries to humanise himself photo shoot". And the quote in combination with that is both grimly funny and infuriating.

It's not on the level of the Vanity Fair White house photoshoot which was genius. And maybe it's in poor taste/opportunistic to be so rage baity. But I would seriously doubt many people would see that front page and end up feeling sympathy for Mandleson. Especially in light of his house being raided by police at the same time it came out.

Your description of everything going on in the cover (the staged domesticity etc) is really good. But I don't think you will be the only one to see it like that.

Does everyone like spicy food?” calls out Reinaldo from the kitchen to me and the photographer. “I’m a Brazilian. I have to check,” he adds with a smile. Mandelson, meanwhile, is checking the photos he just sat for. “Too posed,” he remarks to the photographer.

Amd then the final photo is Mandleson in the kitchen pretending to cook. Very clearly posing but trying to look natural and clearly pretending to do something or other on the purple aga. Which is always the case in these photoshoots but it's really emphasized by the in text reference to the fact that someone else is apparently cooking anyway.

The awkward pose over the pan, the furtive looking up, the shifty hand position, the uncomfortable looking dog. It's a terrible photo but it's also really good.

Couldn't have put it better myself.
👏👏👏

He’s a vile odious POS. He’s got his comeuppance and I hope there’s more to come.
Fast Eddie’s next…

Nice one well spotted. Ridiculous it was his hubby making spicy food and cosying up with the lads form the times. tedious, sleazy yuck yuck yuck

The cover photo, yes - it looks like a retired senior civil servant poking at a fried egg in the over-appointed kitchen of his comfortable pad.

The juxtaposition of the quote about bad luck, in light of the intervening revelations since the article was written and presumably the cover composed, is absolutely savage.

It's an own goal and a hole in one by the Times all at the same time.

He looks more like he's just been discovered putting butter into what's supposed to be a vegan risotto.

I was a bit shocked by the tone of the bit on the front of the magazine but the article itself was much more in line with the latest relevations.

Would be interesting to compare the rewritten electronic version with the print orginal...

Well I never thought I would discover that PM has any redeeming features but he does have good taste in dogs - unless it’s a stunt dog of course. Then bravo to the photographer