The family man

So Alan Milburn's 'more time with his family' turns out to amount to about 15 months, which I think is slightly shorter than Norman Fowler managed with his before going back into Government. But, it's good to know that fatherhood has let Gordon Brown see how important time with the family is, as he wants Milburn to keep spending time with them - or his "consultancy advising a company specialising in the health service". Which makes you wonder just what Milburn was referring to when he said

I was lucky enough to be able to choose to trade time for money

Still, the important question Milburn will have to answer before coming back is that one asked to all Labour people by Tubbs Watson now - are you local?