In the same paper, his education spokesman David Willets has said he will "stand firm" against any Conservative revolt against the new policy, saying the leadership's refusal to back more educational selection was a "crucial test" for the party.
To give a populist such as Mr Livingstone a mandate such as this is like giving Archimedes a firm place to stand: he will try to use it to lever the whole of British politics to the left perhaps even eventually to challenge Mr Blair's grip on the Labour Party.
And President Sarkozy I think has been very courageous in some of the decisions that he's made: his willingness to stand very firm in the need to deal with Afghanistan, and his encouragement of tough direct diplomacy with Iran.