Good news, that is, if you work in the Treasury. For you no longer have that “Stalinist” style manager at the head of your department.

Their gain, however, is clearly our loss.

Yes, we now have Gordon as Prime Minister, despite not a single vote in favour of this promotion being cast.

Posing outside No 10 with wife Sarah, the man who has been Mr Blair’s chancellor for the past 10 years, said: “Let the work of change begin.”

He said his priorities were education, health and restoring trust in politics. He promised he would “try my utmost”.

I have much fear for the future, I don’t mind telling you.

But every cloud has a silver lining, and could be no exception. Brown will be keen, over the coming weeks, to show signs of a break with the Blair years, and there is nothing that show that better than cancelling the bloody ID card and all its databasey badness. There is opportunity, and there are plenty of reasons, adn there is absolutely no downside.

Go on, Gordon. You know we’re not going to like or trust you, but don’t let that stop you from doing the right thing on this…