Preparing to deliver a speech on university funding last week, Tony Blair was preening himself as new Labour luvvie Wendy Piatt of the Institute of Public Policy Research opened the event. The prime minister beamed as Ms Piatt gushed about how pleased she was to welcome to the stage a very special speaker - and promptly announced newspaper columnist David Aaronovitch. Mr Blair's smile froze and remained fixed in position for a good ten minutes, until it was his turn to speak.