This reshuffle is all about survival, Gordon Brown’s survival.  He is trying to buy off his enemies, placate cabinet colleagues who could destroy him and stabilise his government.  It looks like he is too weak to be able to put Ed Balls into the Chancellorship, so all last week’s public dithering about Darling’s position was pain for no gain.

Yvette Balls looks set for promotion so the bunker team is not without advance.  Guido can’t help wondering what Mandelson is thinking.  The serpent could, if he wanted, strike a fatal blow at any moment…