Of course, we could all tell it was going to be a Family Budget because in Monday’s national newspapers we had all enjoyed photographs of Mr. Brown happily relaxing with his family. Except that …. wait a moment, Mr. Brown hasn’t got a family. He is a bachelor (and some say a confirmed one) despite rumours that he may be about to tie the knot. And the "family" was actually that of his Parliamentary private secretary whose young son was having a birthday party. So there was Mr. Brown at the tea table snuggling up a little self-consciously with the children as they attacked their jellies, Munchmallows and orange squash.

Now what’s wrong with that? one may say. "Uncle Gordon" unwinding at the birthday tea. Well, there’s nothing wrong with it. Except that the cynics of the world (and they are to be found here and there, even among the clergy) wonder whether the whole thing might have been ‘stitched up’ as a good photo-opportunity to soothe the anxious nation. Behind the camera, was there perchance a ‘spin-doctor’ smearing his face in cream and strawberry jam and trying to organise just the right angle as, all innocent of such things, the kids wolfed down their food? Perish the thought.