Irvine was also a big personal loss. But, under pressure from his own staff in No 10 and David Blunkett at the Home Office, he had finally agreed to the disbanding of the Lord Chancellor's Department. The three great roles of state held by Irvine - head of the judiciary, member of the Government with responsibility for legal affairs, and Speaker of the House of Lords - would go. The great reforming Government would reveal its true colours with sweeping changes to the criminal justice system, a final solution to the problem of Scotland and Wales and a complete shake-out of middle-ranking Ministers. New blood would show the Government had not run out of steam.

But the plans crashed and burned on the necessity of rapidity and secrecy. Downing Street was left announcing titles that were later changed and the abolition of jobs that had to be re-created the following day. A 'good news' week turned into chaos.

"President Blair? Ha ha" - observer commentary