Nick Robinson was talking to a No.10 adviser last night when he got the news down the wire that James Purnell had resigned. Naturally the Downing St insider began to rubbish the claim until he heard it too. Brown really is in a bunker if he and his team are so unaware of these major shifts in the Cabinet.
Purnell's move looks like certain to being the catalyst to a leadership contest. Although the wagons are being circled today and some semblance of authority may be restored for a few hours, the disastrous results in local and Euro elections will be too much for too many people to bear. Peter Mandelson may be grateful to Brown for bringing back into the bosom of Government but he also possesses the acutest of political brains. When Mandy decides the game is up, he'll be best placed to make Brown see it too.
Alan Johnson has no choice but to sit back while the knives are being thrown. It is an unwritten law of British politics which says the assassin can never be king. His statement of support for Gordon contained no criticism of Purnell. But then it would be more suprising it it had - Purnell may be serving in a Johnson Cabinet next month.
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