Just like magic

Fortunately, Blunkett will always have his natural sense of humour to sweeten any bitter little political pills he may prescribe.

At the Association of Colleges conference in Harrogate he announced a couple of college awards. Lo and behold the winner of the first category was Barnsley College, where Blunkett used to teach. "This has nothing to do with me receiving any money, you know," he quipped. "In fact, come to think of it, I didn't get that much money when I was teaching there." Barnsley lecturers may think this last comment has a strangely contemporary ring to it.