Bagehot: Tessa's not (yet) for burning

摘要

A strange thing happened this week. Just days ago it seemed certain that the ministerial career of Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, was over. The ritual dance that ends with the offering up of the minister's head to propitiate the capricious media gods was well into its stride. But, as The Economist went to press, Ms Jowell's chances of keeping both head and job appeared at least better than even. If she does, not just the government but the political classes generally will celebrate a rare victory over what they regard as an over-mighty press.