Anyone will do

I think we all feel sorry for David Miliband, who having gained the support of both MPs and the membership was narrowly beaten by the Unions' placeman, his brother Ed.

However there are rumours that he will give up politics and become Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.

Hold on there.

This is an important job, affecting the lives of billions of people. Miliband may be a worthy individual but he is not a banker and clearly does not have a sound grasp of economics.

We cannot have crucial roles like this being handed out to failed politicians because they need some sort of compensation, an income even. Dominic Strauss-Kahn was bad enough. The banana man would be even worse, an insult to the third world as well as to the developed world.

No.