The lure of hara-kiri

All is not yet lost for Bryan Davies, Labour further and higher education spokesman and chief collateral-damage victim of Alan Howarth's selection as Labour candidate for Newport East. Mr Davies is reportedly "remarkably phlegmatic" about his selection setback and the leadership's visible delight that the local party rejected him in favour of some chap who did the same FHE job for the Tories five years ago. Rather like John Major, Mr Davies is confident that something will turn up. Even now, swords are being sharpened and suggestions being made to older MPs that falling on them might be more comfortable than it looks.