not as Labour as you lot."

Is it possible that he, or anyone else, could be surprised by this? Let alone discomfited? Wasn't the whole purpose of Campbell's mission to sell Blair to the voters as someone who was visibly less Labour than they took Labour to be?

These are the jottings of man who knows that the biggest job he will ever have is behind him, and that the confrontational style of news management he pioneered has fallen deeply out of fashion.

It is hard, as a consequence, to see the continuing usefulness of Campbell's thoughts. Three years have passed since he left Downing Street. Without him, it was darkly suggested, New Labour would be shown to be all cage and no monkey, and the line was heavily spun ­ not least by Alastair ­ that 'Tony' would struggle without him.

Things are different, all right. And

These are the jottings of a man who knows that his biggest job is behind him

much improved. Whitehall is a calmer, less fearful place, the Parliamentary lobby, roundly despised and skilfully factionalised by Campbell, has regained much of its old collegiate character.

What is missing from these pages is any worthwhile examination of the great political fault line of the Campbell years ­ the loveless relationship between his boss and the man next door.

Campbell, and you can argue that, for this at least, he deserves credit, openly admits that he has avoided the issue to spare Gordon Brown and the party any embarrassment. Instead, the embarrassment is all Alastair's.

The Blair Years: Alastair Campbell's Diaries, Hutchinson, £25