Plenty of talk - and Brown is listening

Andreas Whittam Smith (London, Independent): Sue Cameron writes a feisty piece in the Financial Times telling us what a supine bunch we are for not telling the prime minister-in-waiting what to do when he finally gets to sit on Tony Blair’s sofa. Actually I cannot remember a period when there was so much serious discussion of constitutional reform and better government. I have personal knowledge of a group of former chiefs of staff and military leaders who are discussing reforms to the No 10 / Ministry of Defence / armed forces nexus. Local authority leaders are huddled with constitutional experts to redesign the relationship between the centre and where we live. The NHS is more studied than any sick patient. I belong to the Better Government Group which has worked out proposals that are right now being put to ministers. Numerous think tanks are at it, not least the IPPR. Don’t think Gordon Brown is unaware of this activity - his lieutenants are keeping him briefed. With luck something good will come out it all.