Good news. It's a year since The Independent told the story of whistle-blower Sibel Edmonds, the former FBI translator who detailed evidence proving intelligence officials knew before 9/11 that al-Qa'ida was planning to attack the US with planes Good news. He experienced remarkable "conversions": from a quiet, rather shy schoolboy to being a handsome sporting icon, from being a conventional believer to being a born-again evangelical, then to become a radical activist over derelict urban areas and finally to enter a deep friendship with the Roman Catholic Archbishop Derek Worlock of Liverpool, with whom he wrote three books and took great risks in city riots. His signature music was "Take It Off the Top" by Dixie Dreggs and then he would say in his gravelly voice, "Hi, this is TV on the radio and welcome to the programme that we call the Friday Rock Show." Listeners would hear two hours of good rock music, interlaced with facts about the performers but not inane banter.In 1966 Vance recorded two singles himself, "You Must Be the One" and a cover version of the Rolling Stones' "Off the Hook" He also played a disc-jockey in Slade's 1975 film Flame. The Quinns have claimed that Mr Blunkett has been briefing the press with gossip as to the paternity of Mrs Quinn's second child and her further affairs. A look at the facts, and the principle of cui bono, ought to show how preposterous such allegations are.Mr Blunkett has never claimed to be the father of Kimberly Quinn's second child.
His reception by the public has confirmed that he remains immensely popular with voters and is still a prime asset for the Labour Party.But the operative words are "almost everything". This weekend's re-ignition of the story is the worst possible thing which could have happened to Mr Blunkett's chances of making a return to the Cabinet. Mr Blair has repeatedly said that Mr Blunkett left office "without a stain on his character". And the handling of the anti-terror legislation by his successor, Charles Clarke, has been - to be charitable - chaotic, showing just what the Government is missing without Mr Blunkett.Without fanfare, he has already taken the first steps back. He has spent the past few weeks visiting Labour-held marginal constituencies campaigning on behalf of sitting MPs. As a television and radio performer, the Government lacks - with the exception of John Reid - anyone who comes close to Mr Blunkett's persuasiveness.
Come 6 May, when Mr Blair appoints his new Cabinet, there will be one name returning to the front bench: David Blunkett. Given the Prime Minister's continuing public support for Mr Blunkett, it was a reasonable assumption that he would be back. Almost everything that has happened since his resignation has reinforced that notion. Speak to those close to Tony Blair and they will all tell you the same thing. He will be asked about this many times in the next few weeks. Listen to what Mr Brown says, and how he says it, very carefully indeed..
