The Guardian, Times and Independent all seem to have read more into Brown’s speech yesterday than was necessarily there. Is this the usual nonsense, or is there actually something going on?

Guardian: Chancellor Swipes at Blair and Milburn

Times: Turf War Haunts Blair’s Speech

Indy: Brown’s Assault by Stealth

This is all especially confusing as, in another article, the Guardian states that “Party chiefs in Brighton last night breathed a collective sigh of relief after the chancellor’s annual conference speech… was judged to be a unifying force and not the feared assault on Blairism.”

Hang about – confusing? what am I saying? It’s the same old rubbish as always. Neither Blair nor Brown are stupid enough to bugger around with the leadership at this stage. If there is going to be a change of leader it will almost certainly be a mutual decision, and almost certainly come after the next General Election, not before.

And yes, I do see the irony of slagging off speculation and then indulging in it myself…