Mark, fair enough on Major’s relative obscurity, but I still think Brown’s swift fall is unprecedented. The voters gave Callaghan a chance after he took over from Wilson, and only deserted him after the Winter of Discontent (remember Maggie’s majority in 1979 was a mere 43 seats). Eden was immensely popular after he took over from Churchill, and was returned with an increased majority, but fell from grace after Suez (and I shall refrain from mentioning Eisenhower’s role in contributing to the failure of that first modern struggle in the Middle East). Macmillan succeeded him as obvious heir, and was in turn very successful for many years. Better the Devil You Know is a factor in British politics, and Brown has squandered even that advantage.