The official line is that Gordon will not be commenting on Blair’s confirmation that he was indeed a dreadful PM and appalling team-mate, but then we’ve all heard that before. Instead he has chosen today, randomly, to announce the setting up of The Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown that will be paid for by his after-dinner speeches. So it won’t be creating many jobs then.

In a dig a Tony his statement makes much out of the various, unpaid, international aid roles he  is taking up. There was some speculation he was taking soundings for Shadow International Development Secretary, but today’s statement gives no mention of that.  So still no news on whether he intends to turn up to Parliament next week…