Reasons to be cheerful?

It has not been the best of weeks for the Government. What with Peter Hain's resignation, the stock market jitters, Martin Bright's sudden discovery that he didn't like Ken and Polly Toynbee becoming upset that Gordon is building prisons and keeping police pay in check, one might expect Labour to be in the doldrums. But the polls are suggesting something different.

• Today's ICM poll for the Guardian has the Tory lead down at a mere two points (although another poll suggests a larger if falling lead).


• In London, Ken has actually extended his lead over Boris. And today we learn that Boris is not exactly whiter than white when it comes to potential conflicts of interest.