The PM is of course a very busy man, working on his tan in Barbados. The PMS was characteristically evasive with the Lobby at the last briefing as to when Tony would be back from his hols. There was however a hint that he will be off to save the Middle East when he returns. So the question on Guido’s mind – Is Blair on the Run?

He doesn’t even have time to iron his shirts nowadays.

Incidentally, there is a rumour going around that Tony will give a strong hint as to his exit timetable in his speech to the Lord Sainsbury-funded Progress gang of Blairite holdouts at their annual conference on September 9th. Guido isn’t betting on an early exit.