Iraq.

We now know there is not to be an enquiry about Iraq at the moment. The day however is not far away when there will be. There has already been a suggestion that the membership of any enquiry should be Privy Councillors and/or other Members of that ill defined Club called 'The Great and the Good'. The membership is likely to be decided by those with a vested interest in the outcome.

I am reminded of the words of a former colleague who said " Bill, the thing to remember about the Great and the Good is that in most cases they are neither". There may be exceptions but we need to evolve a system that enquiries are left to those best able to conduct them. Given the independence of the Judiciary in this country I hope that Membership of any Enquiry will be restricted to Judges and leave other members of the Great and the Good to continue to slumber on the Benches of the outdated second Chamber. The choice of the actual members of the enquiry should not be in the gift of the ruling party but should be left to the Chief Justice.

Mr Blair's departure.

The present odds on offer are

Jan - May 2007 5/4
June - Dec 2007 5/4
2006 - 12/1

The Republicans may loose both The Senate and The House of Representitives next month. Such losses would really make Mr Bush a lame duck President. It would also introduce an open season on Mr Blair. To this add the imminent approach of Inspector Plod and the running for cover of Mr Levy and the position of Mr Blair is even more vunerable.

The present odds of 12/1 for Mr Blair to depart this year begins to look attractive. I would not suggest we all put our mortgage or even our savings on this outcome but it might be worth venturing next months beer money.