The art of story management

So, Brown's not going to attend the opening ceremony, and has won plaudits from Hillary Clinton for this brave step. Except, of course, that he is attending the closing ceremony, and was 'never planning' to attend the opening ceremony in any event.

The problems with this for Brown are twofold. First, as Mr E eloquently points out, can this man do nothing right? It doesn't matter what happens, everything he does is turning into ridicule. The man's a walking disaster area.

Secondly, and this was touched on by Ben Brogan, this whole story appears to have been based on a misunderstanding. But then, that's really Brown's fault too - as Brogan says, last week I suggested to one Brown Centralite that the PM should start listening to the questions he's asked, and answering them.