Charles Clarke sizes up the likely stalking horses

Charles Clarke was one of New Labour's beleaguered Home Secretaries. Letting criminals loose by mistake, getting into a muddle over terrorist's human rights and generally bluffing his way out of trouble. He's been a bit quiet of late, but then he's a bit like a volcano. Get a rumble going and he could erupt. Now he's apparently checking out the runners and riders in the stalking horse stakes. According to The Independent, an informative MP says that "Charles has the names". Names of those who would sign up in order to trigger a ballot for a leadership contest. Of course, Clarke denies all this, but then he would, wouldn't he? The MP kindly added that either Mr Clarke or another MP with "nothing to lose" would stand as a way of gauging opinion in the Labour Party.

As Jon Snow put it to Brown, "Ten years as Iron Chancellor, ten months as a dithering Prime Minister?" All this must be very depressing for him, now being labelled the John Major of New Labour. Major didn't get to see a stalking horse. He just went into the garden of No.10 to tell journalists he was calling a leadership election. John Redwood obliged by being his opponent. Brown may not get the chance to walk amongst the daffodils.

The elections on May 1st will be dire for Labour. The economy won't be much changed by then, either. If the plotters and schemers aim to chuck him out, this summer will be the time to do it. In some ways I hope they don't succeed. All new leaders get a honeymoon. Ditching leaders is not uncommon. Ireland's just done it, in the hope that the new man, "Biffo" Cowen, will bring home the bacon. I would prefer Brown to stay, so we can vote on his government's terrible record with him as Prime Minister as well as Chancellor. A period of sleaze, spin, corruption, money wasted on pet projects and potty policies. Yes we've had it OK, but we've deceived ourselves big time. Brown just fed us the juicy gravy. Now it's run dry!