I now find myself in the surprising position of rooting for Gordon Brown and hoping that he manages to survive the current attempt on his career. My dislike of Brown is quite simply outstripped by my loathing of Purnell. Is it really a surprise that of all the Blairites it was Purnell who was willing to actually thrust the knife into Brown’s back? Undoubtedly a sign of his ambition. If Brown survives and restores his authority then, one might hope, this could be the end of Purnell’s career and, having overstepped his mark, he will have no significant future in politics, ultimately doomed to retire a broken and bitter man, resigned to pursuing some private sector career which will forever fail to satisfy his burning desire for power and influence. As much as I want Brown to  fall, it’s important to bear in mind that it would (a) most likely leave Blairite’s back in power (b) mean that we’re denied the public spectacle of Purnell’s career dying a slow satisfying death.