There are many people who dreamed that Alan Johnson would stand for the leadership of the Labour Party. They believed that he had the sort of popular, mainstream, and - let's be honest - English appeal that Gordon Brown simply couldn't match.
Well, he's thought about it, and he's told me that his decision is not to run for leader - but that he will be a candidate for deputy leader.
It is looking increasingly unlikely that anyone credible from the Cabinet will run against Gordon Brown for the leadership. John Reid has not ruled himself out, but he's certainly not ruling himself in. There may well be a candidate from the left of the Labour Party. One thing is certain though... there is now a very crowded field indeed for the position of deputy leader.
One thing going for Johnson is what the Americans call a good back story and a good sense of humour. He combined both today when I asked him - a former postman who once delivered post to Dorneywood (the Deputy PM's residence) - whether he'd dreamt then of living there. He answered, "there has been a little bit of me thinking wouldn't it be nice to actually not be going to the servants' quarters with the post and to be opening the front door and inviting the postman in for a cup of tea, yes. But you know, but a week would do." (You can hear his comments by clicking here.)
Today David Cameron has broken his year-long silence on the subject of immigration. As the issue has rocketed up the news agenda and the list of voters priorities, his silence was in danger of becoming deafening - and this week has illustrated all too clearly why it was tempting for the Tory leader to stay mum.
First a Conservative councillor . Her response - which was to blame her husband for using her e-mail account and the Lib Dems for daring to publicise the fact - was all too revealing. Then Bernard Jenkin, the Tory vice chairman responsible for persuading the party to select a broader range of candidates, throwing their toys out of the pram when not selected. Mr Jenkin was - happily for Mr Cameron - relieved of his duties before he made that remark.
You don't, of course, have to look back to this week to see how immigration has been a double-edged issue for the Conservatives. Ask William Hague and Michael Howard.
Looking at the policy though there is now remarkably little to choose between the Tories and Labour. Both say there should be limits on immigration, both say they would ask for independent advice, both say they'd take into account economic and social factors and both refuse to even make a stab at what an appropriate figure for immigration might be (you can watch my interview with the Tory leader by clicking here).
If you don't believe they're converging, just try this immigration test. Who said...?
1. "We have to get away from this daft so-called politically correct notion that anybody who wants to talk about immigration is somehow a racist. That isn't the case."
2. "Mainstream politicians must give it (immigration) serious attention... they need to do so in a calm and rational way... ill-judged language can cause genuine hurt and damage community relations."
3. "The first principle will be to control immigration with regard to the economic effects. The second principle will be to control it with regard to the wider effects on society."
4. "People recognise others from outside this country can bring great skills here... but they also want to be assured that our services will be preserved and immigration will be managed. I want to change that culture so we can have that mature discussion."
(Answers - number one and four were John Reid, number two was David Davis, number 3 was Damian Green)
