Tim Worstall is not Charles Clarke’s best friend, so it is a chilling reminder of the growing power of the blog that at exactly the same time as the normally relentless ex-pat blogger decides to “take a trip to Blighty“, the Home Secretary finds himself in a little bit of bother:

Clarke insists: ‘I will not quit’

Home Secretary Charles Clarke says he will not resign after 1,023 foreign prisoners were freed without being considered for deportation.

He said he does not know where most of the offenders, who include three murderers and nine rapists, are.

He admits that a growth in foreign prisoners had led to the Home Office taking its “eye off the ball”.

The Lib Dems accused ministers of incompetence. The Tories are demanding Mr Clarke answer to Parliament.