Softly, softly

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Blair: I intend to be Prime Minister for a third term

Has Paxo lost his stuffing? Jeremy Paxman's Newsnight producers must be pleased with his scoops about Mr Blair's refreshingly enthusiastic attitude to our joining the euro. The curly-haired author of The English did well, and much better than some of those bland mini-me replacements the BBC tries to palm us off with in his place. But we wonder a little about the kinder, gentler style he deployed on Mr Blair. Where was the Paxman who asked the hapless Michael Howard the same question 14 times? Where was the Paxman drawl – that "y-e-e-e-es" delivered with such withering effect to any dissembling Cabinet minister? Where was the Paxman who thinks "why is this bastard lying to me?"?