Kelly has survived

And is said to be 'defiant over school reforms' in the face of growing opposition in the Labour party - not least from the normally fastidiously loyal Neil Kinnock.

One reason for her survival appears to be not that many people seem to care much about the teacher selection scandal - which surprised me, I have to say.

But the most important surely is that no-one else in the party is mad enough to want to be Education Secretary at this time. Poisoned chalice? More like a poisoned cask.

I keep reading about how intelligent she is.

So why did she take the job in the first place then?