How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

Send for Gerald Kaufman.

After keeping creepy Kaufman under the duvet for many a long year, whose idea was it to make a bad situation worse by letting him loose on the media?

On Channel 4 News last night he gave a masterly display of political wretchedness, calling for everyone at the Beeb, bar, maybe the tea lady, to resign, blaming them for Kelly's death, while consistently refusing to admit the Government had done anything wrong. He even used the mad tactic of saying, "You invited me here to talk about the BBC..." and talking about "presenting evidence to you," as if he were granting us all the gift of his treasured secrets.

Someone should tell him we've all seen the same evidence and it is looking like the kid Cuthbertson's wish that the Government and the Beeb should both lose will turn out to be the final outcome. So what could possibly be gained by Kaufman spouting merrily away as if the public spectacle of Hutton is not unfolding under our very noses? At least Gilligan has had the, belated, good sense to admit his mistakes and apologise.

Kaufman is the culture, media and sport Select Committee chairman, I wonder what Blair makes of his barmy intervention and his early day motion calling on Dyke to resign? Maybe Blair put him up to it. After all, he can always say, oh that's just Gerald, you know what he's like. Nothing to do with me, mate. He might think that, but I couldn't possibly comment.