EVERY SATURDAY

on Wednesday,” noted the diarist. “You’d have loved it, he said. It was a collector’s item. GB – you wanted to see me.

“TB – yes. GB – Here I am. TB – I wanted to say that we give it one last go to work together. GB – What is your proposal? TB – My proposal is that we work together, and you co-operate with me, and then one day I help you to take over.

“GB – That is not a proposal. TB – Yes it is. GB – No it’s not. TB – Are you saying that unless I give you a date for my departure, you won’t work with me? GB – I need a proposal so I know what the future holds.”

And so it went on, day after day. No wonder the country went from boom to bust. It beggars belief that Gordon Brown, a man lacking in personal skills in addition to his economic shortcomings, was actually given the keys to 10 Downing Street – has there ever been a leader more unsuited to high office? – and that Tony Blair was too weak to sack him.

If he had, and if Labour had had a meaningful leadership contest when Mr Blair stepped down, would the party be in the mess that it is today?