Whether Howard has been put in as a caretaker isn't really the point. He will restore authority to the office of Leader of the Opposition, which has been notably lacking since John Smith died. And that means he would be very hard to shift, even if the Tories wanted to try. He'll lead the Tories for as long as he likes. Portillo may be around long enough to inherit the leadership, but the loathesomely ambitious David Davies has missed the boat, thank God.

I agree entirely about PMQs, McG (Prime Minister's Questions, rather than Parliamentary Question Time, by the way). The reason the Labour Party is taking this regime change seriously - and if you hadn't noticed, it is - is because Howard has the potential to tear Blair apart on other fronts. Most obviously Iraq, where Howard (unlike IDS) will have no problem supporting the war at the same as humiliating Blair over the deceits he used to get us into that war.

Expect the parliamentary Labour Party to become a litle less biddable, too. Many of its members now know they will be out at the nextelection.

Gareth, are you going to enlarge on that point about Buckingham?