Tiki-taka

As the odds on Andy Burnham for next/interim Labour leader shorten, helpful Times leader writer and Blairite, Philip Collins (Bury Grammar School, Birmingham University and Ph D in Utopias at St John's College, Cambridge) has reminded us (paywall) of the part astro-turf football in Islington has played in the party's history.

Philip (Mr Geetha Guru-Murthy) was a midfield dynamo for Demon Eyes, which featured David Miliband and James Purnell, now Director of Strategy and Digital at the BBC, as its preferred centre-half pairing, and Andy Burnham in the role of chubby goal hanger.

Andy's now 5/4 on for the Siege Perilous. In 2008 odds, he was an outsider, and James Purnell was 6/1 second favourite, alongside Alan Johnson, with both behind David Miliband.  Still, James can now concentrate on Charter Renewal with Whittingdale, Cameron and Osborne, and await the arrival of his first child in July.