Neither Mike Hussey nor Cameron White were able to play a match-winning innings as Sri Lanka remained dominant with some unerringly accurate bowling.

BBC: Australia crash to seventh defeat

But neither Mr Brown nor Mr Cameron will be despondent.

ECONOMIST: The daily take

Nor will Mr Cameron remember with joy the Leveson Inquiry where we learned how he shared intimate texts - and a horse - with a tabloid editor.

BBC: What to expect in 2013?

Doubts have been raised about the point of Sir Alex Allan - an adviser who has chosen neither to investigate Mr Hunt nor to advise Mr Cameron.

BBC: What has today's debate changed?

The first point in Mr Cameron's favour is that, in contrast to his three predecessors, he is neither disliked nor thought inept.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot