When Jack Straw was shadow home secetary, he criticised Michael Howard (then the home secretary) for forcing out the prisons chief. (Although Jack had all the cards in his hand, he managed to lose the debate by a handsome margin!) Once again Labour is shamelessly doing exactly what it righteously criticised the Tories for doing. Whether it's spin, sleaze or bullying from the centre, there really is no difference: Labour are the new Tories.