[Cyclefrance]

I've always believed that Tony's hidden agenda has been to become the first long-term president of the EU. That over-friendly attitude to GWB was his way of showing how he was best placed to deal with the world's most influential leader, and he has regularly placed the international agenda ahead of the domestic one - when it came the international scene Tony would be in there with his gloves off/on, but domestic issues usually prompted little more than substanceless rhetoric.

I wasn't surprised therefore to hear that EU presidency was up the top of his post-PM-ship wish-list. Watch this space....

I agree that he has wasted the opportunities that Labour's large majority presented. Not a case of taking his eye of the ball, but more a case of having it on another one. Sad really, considering the trust that the majority of the population placed in him. Still, given the run-around he has given Gordon over the years, should we be that surprised to find that this is a part of the man's psyche.

As for Gordon - time will tell, and probably not much of it. The English people are going to expect a lot in a short time as he has to prove himself very quickly to be the man of substance and ability that is needed to take on a growing Tory revival.