It's hard to believe that Blair will go on much longer. Both he and Bush were pathetic in their press conferences in the States this week. What continues to amaze me is why the Labour party just don't remove him. The succession is a seperate matter.

Knight of the long knives
Blair's carve-up of his cabinet is curious. Reminds me a bit of the Scottish play. 'Is this a dagger I see before me...?', Cherie is crying ; was Jack Straw, as minister for war beginning to show some personal initiative; was Blair jealous of his closeness to Miss Rice; Why did Clarke suddenly get the blade in the back and who are these yes men/women slotted in as frontmen/women without (of course) any real power? They need to know that all power resides in Downing Street.

I still maintain Brown will never move into no. 10.