Conference call-out

Ignore the miles and miles of twittering and name-calling that sits at the foot of this article; instead, read Jackie Ashley's thoughts on how Tony Blair has no choice but to name the date of his departure at this year's party conference, and as a consequence how he'll be gone from office sooner than we think.

I have a particular interest in this coming true, of course, because I predicted as much at the end of last year. But really, when it comes to the point of even John Major admitting that eight years is long enough for any Prime Minister, it's surely time to hand over the keys and disappear into the night. The country feels like it did in the dismal twilight years of the last Tory Government, and that's not right at all.