Once and for all

I suppose I should write something for the new year, just to say Hey, I'm still here, to put to bed the rumour that I am not, once and for all.

And those are the four words that stood out at me most from this evening news reports. Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon want a ballot on their leader to settle the matter, once and for all. And they may get their way because if they grandstand like this they will get the publics view on their government, once and for all, really rather soon.

I may be speaking as an outsider to the Labour party (and I am) but surely the time to settle such matter was last summer, or even earlier when GB first put himself forward as PM. Three months before an election campaign. Even this political novice has to ask 'What are they on????'