Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, refused to accept his apology over remarks exposing rifts in Cabinet. Jack is said by witnesses to have been “white with anger” over the way Mr Blunkett had talked openly about internal arguments within the Government over ID card legislation. I bet he was not amused by Blunkett’s claims that he left the Home Office “in a mess” either.

It might not be the inquiry Blunkett needs to fear most, it may be his cabinet colleagues.