Analysis: MPs are already in a bitterly contentious campaign to election dayMPs are returning to Westminster tomorrow for the rapidly accelerating downhill run to the next general election.
He had to wait until John Major became prime minister before he became a rising star in the ministerial ranks. Until, that is, he was brought down by links with Mohamed Al Fayed. And to be fair, in his interview with Trevor Phillips, he's contrite and apologetic about his scandalous past. Sir Craig Oliver says that there is a"real problem" of politicians refusing to admit there are"real, systemic difficult problems that do not have easy solutions and actually we're going to have to take some pain in order to deal with them".This is the question Trevor Phillips puts to the expert panel next.
Before she could finish, laughter broke out in the studio and Ms Johnson acknowledged that statement is an"open goal" - her brothers, of course, are Boris and Jo Johnson. Until 1997, he was a member of parliament, and in 1999, he pleaded guilty to charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice, which he says he"regrets".
Asked if there is less space for god in politics than when he was in government three or four decades ago, he says the church and state relationship also rises and falls, and the bishops in the House of Lords make a vast contribution.