Before Shadow Account's hero starts out on his quest into the dark heart of bookkeeping, he gets a useful tutorial in the subject from a pro.

FORBES: Killers With Green Eyeshades

The latest defeat removes her from the shadow of Australia's most reviled Labor administration well before the next federal election, due in 2013.

ECONOMIST: Labor is humbled in its heartland

Under John Major he became Financial Secretary to the Treasury in 1994, then serving as transport secretary from 1995-97 before taking the shadow Commons leader's job under William Hague's leadership.

BBC: Profile: Sir George Young