In a puff piece in the Brownite Daily Mail, Blinky does a bit of false modesty and says “I still have a lot to learn.” He tells Dacre’s hacks, “No” he won’t be taking over at the Treasury “I have been a Minister for less than a year”. Yes, and he has barely managed to hang on to his parliamentary seat. If Brown hadn’t sorted out a sinecure and a peerage for the neighbouring sitting MP his protege would soon face actually having to earn a living.Guido has been betting against Balls being Chancellor for sometime, his odds are far too short and he has effectively made himself a longshot. Alastair Darling should get the gig unless the upcoming cabinet game of musical chairs somehow upsets Brown’s plans. In other bets Guido has rebalanced the Blair-to-Go bet to July/Sep on Betfair. Uncharacteristically am “all red” on any other outcome. If Yates forces an early Blair resignation Guido will take a hammering at the bookies, but it would be worth it…

Cheer yourself up again by watching Blinky fall apart under interrogation by Brillo.