While watching the TV news about the loss of those discs containing information about 25m people, I almost - almost - felt a tiny twinge of sympathy for Gordon Brown.

The expression on the poor bloke's face, as Alistair Darling addressed the House and apologised for yet another cock-up, said it all.

For someone who has waited 10 years to be number one, he isn't having much joy at the job.

He hasn't picked a very good crew - or so it seems.

No referendum on the EU Treaty/Constitution; giving back £7.2bn of the EU rebate Maggie Thatcher won for us, which Tony Blair signed away before he cleared off; no solution to the problems of the NHS, crime, education or immigration - only a silly lot of twaddle.

No. I must have dreamed about that twinge of sympathy.

Make the most of it, Mr Brown - you will never be elected leader of this country.

MICHAEL CLARKE Lewell Avenue Old Marston Oxford