Mr Brown had not intended to declare his support for Mr Blair at this stage. He was bounced into it by remarks in Strasbourg by Baroness Kinnock, the former MEP who is now Britain's Europe Minister. She told journalists that the Government was backing his candidacy. After that, Downing Street could hardly contradict her, even though it insisted she had not made a formal "announcement".

There is frustration in government circles that Lady Kinnock let herself be drawn into backing Mr Blair.

Her timing was unfortunate: the comments distracted attention (and headlines) from an embarrassing Tory split in the European Parliament...

So, was Kinnock stupid or reacting to the González leaks from Sarkozy?

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}