So Gordon Brown has launched [1] his campaign for leader of the Labour Party - a campaign which he's been running for pretty much the whole of the last ten years. No sooner have we seen the back of one insincere smiling Prime Minister than once-grouchy Gordon suddenly reveals himself to be the owner of his very own sickly smile. Why do politicians feel the need to do this?

Anyone in UNISON, or any other trade union, who thinks that dealing with Gordon Brown would be any different from dealing with Blair should take note of the BBC report of Brown's statements, not least him "refusing to rule out employing ministers from other parties" (although I think the chances for anyone in, say, the Socialist Party, are probably pretty slim) and that "he also denied he would move the government to the left, saying he would continue to "drive forward" New Labour reforms to the public services".

We desperately need John McDonnell to get on to the ballot paper, to at least give Labour Party members the chance of expressing some dissent to such views. Otherwise, Brown may win the leadership but it will probably mean Labour losing the next election.