Keeping Calm and Carrying on?

Is the snow plot melting? Although it's true that Ministers have not been rushing to sing Gordon Brown's praises, it's been difficult to discover much support for the Hewitt/Hoon plot among even the usual suspects on Labour benches.

Among the MPs we've spoken to, verdicts include "completely bloody daft", "completely bonkers", "nonsense" and "insane".

Former Minister Don Touhig has e-mailed both Ms Hewitt and Mr Hoon angrily to let them know what he thinks - the word "unforgiveable" just about sums up his view.

Wales Office Ministers Peter Hain and Wayne David are turning down interviews rather than risk fuelling what they say is an annoying distraction. Of course, they could be plotting but on this occasion I'm prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt.

There is a genuine sense of bewilderment at the timing of a coup attempt that follows improved Labour poll ratings, better public performances by the Prime Minister, and confusion in Conservative ranks over their policies.

Lord Mandelson, one with the power to break Gordon Brown's Government, said: "No one should over-react to this initiative. "It is not led by members of the government. No one has resigned from the
government." (At least not yet, despite rumours yesterday that at least one was rushing for the exit)

"The Prime Minister," said the Business Secretary, "continues to has the support of his colleagues. We should carry on government business as usual."

The snow is starting to settle at Westminster but the plot may well be melting.

The peers' pageant?

How will you be celebrating the Queen's diamond jubilee? Lord Mandelson has announced an extra bank holiday, creating a four day weekend in early June 2012.

The Business Secretary dodged a call for an extra holiday on March 1, 2012 to mark St David's Day.

Lord Roberts of Llandudno told him it would be "a great opportunity for St David's Day to be recognised as an official bank holiday in celebration of the diamond jubilee."

Lord Mandelson neatly sidestepped the question: "I am sure that those who might want to take up your suggestion of making St David's Day a bank holiday will have heard the suggestion you have made."

Others will have begun to shout about snubs to Wales, if not slaps in the face. Making St David's Day a public holiday is one of those policies that some political parties adopt between elections only to junk as the prospect of victory on election day approaches.

But Lord Roberts had another, cheaper, idea to celebrate the diamond jubilee - a "historical pageant" in Parliament.

It's a little unfair on the rest of us, as Lord Roberts already has his own ermine-trimmed fancy dress costume suitable for any historical pageant.

Accountable to parents?

Devolution may mean different policies for different parts of Britain but UK-wide political parties tend to apply similar principles everywhere.

Well, they do sometimes. Was the scrapping of tests for primary school pupils in Wales (and replacement by internal teacher assessment) an example of "Welsh solutions for Welsh problems" or bad news for parents?

Here's Lord Mandelson's take on the issue, in an English context:"The test for political parties over the next few years is whether they can make the tough decisions that protect the frontline. It's clear from our plans to create real rights and guarantees in the NHS that we will do this. Why are the Tories so unwilling?Why do they want to scrap even the most basic guarantees?

"That is the question they must answer if anyone is to believe they are serious about protecting frontline services.In schools, the same principle is being applied where the Tories are proposing to drop the SATS test in the last year of primary school. Accountability to parents is to be sacrificed in favour of the producer interest. It’s part of the same unspoken pact."

Leaving aside advice on accountability from the unelected House of Lords, that may be a line to remember the next time Gordon Brown's cabinet drops by west of Offa's Dyke.