In his memoir, An Unconventional Minister, Mr Robinson labels Mr Mandelson a «divisive and destabilising figure» who caused rows between Mr Blair and chancellor Gordon Brown.
These figures reflect the destabilising uncertainty facing both skilled workers and British employers — particularly as they come just a fortnight after the government said its white paper outlining the post-Brexit immigration models (originally proposed for publication in Autumn 2017) will not be published until a transition deal is agreed.