The General Election seems to be influencing the Business Secretary’s plans.

James Blunt, who wrote to Lord Mandelson on the vexed subject of internet piracy, called the internet service providers “drug pushers” in an e-mail that the minister saw fit to publish this week.

Those terrible ISPs, you see, are the people who allow us hapless addicts, also known as consumers, to download and copy music free — the only drug for which you don’t have to pay. You can sympathise a bit with Mr Blunt — yes folks, piracy is illegal — but wonder also, who is doing the using here. Why else would the Business Secretary publish the views of the You’re Beautiful singer (and Noel Gallagher’s and Sir Elton John’s) if it was not to give his proposals on internet disconnection the sheen of celebrity endorsement.

Look though at what Lord Mandelson actually proposed, and it is obvious that the Business Secretary stepped back from the brink, at least this side of an election.

Click here for the full Times piece.