I’m hooked on BBC Parliament at the moment, watching this bill ping pong like some crazy game involving wooden bats and small plastic balls. I have no inkling as to which way this one will go, but I can’t see it being good for Mr Blair either way – if he’s defeated he’ll look weak, if he’s not then he will be portrayed by Mr Howard as overreacting and irrational. Either way, he’ll appear to be playing politics with terror.

Clearly, though, the best thing for the country would be for this bill to fail miserably. And by the way, I wouldn’t bother tuning in right at this very second because both houses have been suspended, and it looks like they might stay that way for some time yet. Somebody poke the MPs with a big stick and get them working again, please!