There were, to rework Diana's phrase, three of them in that interview. On the Today programme (Radio 4), James Naughtie and Nick Robinson joined forces to tackle Peter Mandelson. It was a like a fiercely fought tennis match, with singles one side of the net and doubles on the other.
Robinson's prologue noted the government's refusal to use the word "cuts" in relation to public spending. Naughtie took this as his theme, volleying interventions as Mandelson dodged the c-word. "You just can't use the word, can you?" Naughtie taunted. "You accept there will be cuts?" he prodded. "Spending in some areas will be . . . " Mandelson began, hesitating ever so slightly. "Cut!" Naughtie boomed. "Reduced," replied Mandelson. "Use the word, please," was Naughtie's final, disdainful shot. Naughtie was actually rather good and there was only one convoluted sentence. It was a cracker, though. He suggested that the government declare "what you're not going to do is what they're doing and tell us what you're going to do".
Robinson popped back to answer a Mandelson challenge about the veracity of a quote he had used earlier. "It is exactly what I said, 'Tory cuts, Labour investment,' a quote from Prime Minister's Ques- tions," he explained, giving the date. It was like a soaring lob, landing sweetly inside the baseline.