ACCORDING to what are almost certainly well-informed reports, if Tony Blair had had his way, Peter Mandelson's latest political comeback would have restored him to the Cabinet, as Minister for Work and Pensions. We must fervently hope that after he has served his stint as Britain's European Commissioner, that domestic role remains open for him.

For Mr Mandelson would surely feel honour bound to secure for every British citizen heading into retirement the standard of income safeguard that goes with his new job. On completing his five years, he will receive a "transitional allowance'' of at least half his £145,000 salary for two years. And he will forever collect an EU pension worth about two thirds of his final salary.

Mr Mandelson's prospects are therefore a little brighter than those of the 2,000 British employees of car parts firm Turner and Newell, the latest in a string of companies to wind-up their pension schemes, thus casting adrift workers (65,000 at the last count) who have given years of loyal service. While fat cats get fatter, the rank and file are stripped of their modest entitlements.

A bloody revolution would not be too excessive a response. But Mr Mandelson could head it off. Promoting his Euro pension arrangement as a model for all, he would also set himself to ensure the proper working of a compensation scheme required of industry from 2006. And, of course, he would wish to lift from Britain the shame of having just about the lowest pension in Europe.

No friend of Gordon Brown, he would seize the chance to contrast the Chancellor's firm commitment in 1993 to end means-testing for pensioners with the subsequent rise in poverty to the point where more than half our elderly people now qualify for means-tested benefits. Standing at a meagre £4,081, today's average pension lags £8,221 behind so-called "median" earnings of £12,302.

A European Commisioner who had enjoyed such perks as a £400 a month entertainment allowance, and a £100 daily allowance for hotel costs, simply could not tolerate this virtual pauperisation of fellow citizens.

Yes, Mr Mandelson, ex Euro Commissioner, will be the perfect pensions' crusader. Keep that seat warm, Tony.

At Manchester Airport on January 6, 57-year-old Michael Howard, a much-loved family man, pulled up in a drop-off zone. A 17-year-old youth, Dean Taylor, seized his car, a Volvo estate, and ran over Mr Howard in front of his wife.

The other day Taylor was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years detention (in reality half that) for Mr Howard's manslaughter. As he left court he bawled: "Stick your seven and half years up your arse.''

A police officer said that throughout the hearing Taylor "sat sneering and showing no remorse. His atttitude was one of contempt''. The judge told him: "A decent person lost his lost life and a family (two sons and a daughter as well as Mrs Howard), suffered a loss that will last indefinitely.''

How long should Taylor be in "detention''? Would you agree that 20 years should just about wipe the sneer off his face? Who today has any confidence in British justice?