So Alan Milburn now wants to spend less time with his family and more time pissing-off Gordon Brown. That must have been an interesting conversation chez Milburn:

"Darling?"

"Yes, Alan"

"You know how I resigned from the government to spend more time with you and our two smashing young sons, here in Britain's thriving North-East?"

"mmmmmm"

"Well it turns out I was wrong. To be truly fulfilled I need to spend less time here with you and the boys and more time in London; with the big boys. Britain is in crisis! My hour is at hand! The Duchy of Lancaster needs a progressive chancellor."

"mmmmm - sorry... what was the middle bit?"

"You know all that time I've been spending in the shed? Well to be honest I haven't been fixing the mower, or finishing my matchstick model of Aneurin Bevan's birthplace"

"Really?"

"No. I've been refining my reform agenda"

"Oh so that's what they call it nowadays.."

"Ruth! I'm serious. I must go to London. Immerse myself in The Thing. I feel the hand of history on my shoulder...."

"Just don't let David Blunkett immerse you in anything - you're a married man, don't forget."