Iron chancellor awaits coronation

Our chancellor, future prime minister of Britain (with a newly-discovered, wild-eyed smile now permanently plastered to his "dour Scots visage"), today says:

"Today there are new priorities and I offer a new leadership for this new time," he said. Mr Brown insisted he would welcome a challenge from "any other candidate who wants to stand", and said he would "fight hard" for every single nomination and expression of support.

Translation: Would somebody please run against me for the Labour party leadership (and, obviously, lose) so I can look as if I earned this? And no, he won't call an early election so we, the British people, can have our say. He's got a couple of years to enjoy the power he's longed for and expected, during his long nightmare of Blairite rule.

Based on nothing at all -- at least nothing substantial -- I'll just say I don't like or trust this guy. But, I guess time will tell. Perhaps he's brilliant.

I'm glad to see the back of Blair, with the stain of Bush and Iraq all over him. The shame of it, for me, is that I otherwise like Tony, but can't forgive him for Iraq. So now we'll get this guy Brown. Be careful what you wish for?