The government of all the talents starts to break up

So, Sir Digby Jones – the trade minister, and the first non-politician to be appointed to Brown’s ‘government of all the talents’ – has told the BBC that he’s going to quit his role before the end of this year.  It’s hardly surprising news – he was alleged to have confirmed the same to a private meeting of business leaders back in April, although he played down those reports.  But it’s still bad news for our Prime Minister.  After all, the public will surely see it as further evidence that HMS Brown is sinking, and that the crew would rather jump overboard than stick by the captain.