Ten years on
If it is true that all political careers end in failure, there is a strong underlying assumption that politicians never leave office at the time of their own choosing.
Had Margaret Thatcher left on her tenth anniversary, she would have gone in the most favourable circumstances. The next two years were the unhappiest possible for her. By contrast Tony Blair is going deeply mistrusted and unpopular.
I suspect that ultimately attitudes will level out, especially when Gordon Brown takes over. I would like to suggest that those Labour MPs who have been baying for his blood will begin to miss him. We will not!