Letwin’s panoramic sweep and intellectual ambition

This has been by far the dullest week in British politics since well before the 2001 general election. Yet it would be wrong to say that nothing is going on; far from it. A meddling government has resolved, once again, to tear up the examination system. There is a Cabinet rift over the treatment of migrant workers from Eastern Europe. The emergence of a prospective President Kerry in the United States has left Tony Blair looking too close to President Bush for comfort. Unemployment sank to a 28-year low — though scarcely reported, it was the most significant political event of the week.

Nevertheless, it remains the case that there have been no crises, wars or dramas of any kind. The famous Downing Street grid, through which government officials strive to plot events for weeks in advance, has gone according to plan for the first time in memory.

For the second week running (a record) — leaving aside the intermittent leadership crises — the Conservatives are the more interesting political party. Michael Howard has delivered three groundbreaking speeches in under two weeks. Each has addressed areas of high importance: immigration, Europe and the role of the state. They have all been sensible as well as newsworthy, a notably difficult double act to pull off in opposition. As the Conservative leader knows well, Britain is entering a 15-month period which will be dominated by elections. European and the London mayoral contests loom in June. In all probability, a general election will be called in the spring or early summer of next year.

Michael Howard is preparing himself as a good general should: setting his battle lines, establishing his lines of retreat, defining his terms, ensuring his lines of supply and communication, steadily moving his troops into position.