...but the rumour mill grinds on

Whitehall gossip now predicts that the Prime Minister will give his ministerial team only a minor tweak after the summer break. Science Minister Lord Sainsbury is still widely tipped to be one of those scheduled for a September departure. But Mr Johnson is likely to have to wait until after the general election next summer before getting a promotion beyond higher education. The gossips have him pegged to take up Charles Clarke's one-time job as Labour Party Chairman.