Isn't the Labour government's commitment to democracy a wonderful thing? It introduced the novelty of a mayor for London specifically to expand the democratic base and provide a counterpoint to central government power. Grateful Londoners promptly put that into practice by voting in Ken Livingstone, the ex-Labour bete noire who fought as an independent because Labour wouldn't touch him with a bargepole, in order to give Labour a bloody nose.

Now, Tony Blair is apparently intending to restore Ken to Labour's ranks. Is this perhaps because Blair has been converted to Ken's brand of post-Marxist, libertarian, victim culture politics? Alas, the reason is a touch less high-minded. Blair fears that Labour's official mayoral candidate could once again be trounced in next year's election, paving the way for further defeats in the London assembly and EU elections. "What we must do is avoid the smell of death," said a strategist.

So -- if Labour is heading for disaster at the hands of a rival candidate, the way to defeat him is simple. Make him Labour too! Semioticians must be thrilled.