Toe in the door

Alumnus to be proud of number 118 is a beacon of hope to unemployed ex-MPs. David Mellor, ex-minister and former MP for Putney, is probably too upset by the death of Sir James Goldsmith to gloat. But he is already being spoken of as a possible mayor of London, and this week was put in charge of reforming British football, a task that should guarantee him the free tickets he had to relinquish when he suddenly ceased five years ago to be minister for fun. Swanage Grammar School, Christ's College Cambridge and the Inner Temple are the sites of learning influential in his development - along, of course, with Chelsea FC.