My friends in what is still called Fleet Street tell me that The Observer newspaper is planning a special commemorative issue to mark the retirement of Mr Tony Blair. In the last century, the papers were forever bringing out "souvenir'' editions to celebrate some event or other in the story of the Royal Family. There seem to be fewer of them these days, though the presses will no doubt be rolling merrily once again with a couple of royal marriages. Similarly, in the holidays, the comics of my childhood would produce a Bumper Fun Number.

Alan Watkins: There is a mayfly in the ointment for the Brown coronation. Let's call it Mrs Beckett

Published: 11 February 2007

Kissing hands with the Queen does not seem necessary

Alan Watkins: Unless Yates of the Yard is the Grand Old Duke of York, then Mr Blair will have to go

Published: 04 February 2007

Straw's monument casts a ghostly glow over the entire cemetery

Alan Watkins: Even the most servile realise Mr Blair's time is up, but who will lead the coup?

Published: 28 January 2007

At the least, he should make his intentions clear to his colleagues

Alan Watkins: Prime ministers are prey to delusion. I am filled with apprehension for Mr Brown

Published: 21 January 2007

What is dangerous is the notion that we can save mankind

Alan Watkins: An influx of one-legged Romanian roofers and plumbers? Someone had to pay

Published: 14 January 2007

Jenkins secured a debating triumph in the case of the escaped spy

Alan Watkins: Mr Brown is as much to blame as anyone for Labour being 'in a rut' over Iraq

Published: 07 January 2007

For Mr Blair, on an execution or torture, the least said the better

Master Alan Watkins' Almanac: Master Blair has a clever Scheam. He is desirous to make Peace with Mr Brown

Published: 31 December 2006

He is more Nature's Guest than he is Nature's Host

Alan Watkins: There were eras of Wilson and Thatcher. Will there be an age of Brown? I doubt it

Published: 24 December 2006

All Mr Brown wants is a good long spell in Downing Street

Alan Watkins: Farewell, my old friend Frank Johnson - from urchin to editor, with wit and style

Published: 17 December 2006

'You wore very funny trousers', he said. 'Army surplus'

Alan Watkins: When the Chancellor enters No 10, he should give this non-job a decent burial

Published: 10 December 2006

Mr Prescott has proved a constant embarrassment to all concerned

Alan Watkins: Polly, like many upper-class women, tends to think she knows best what people need

Published: 03 December 2006

I have difficulty understanding her hostility to the entire Tory press. Ms Toynbee is in favour of taxing virtually everyone

Alan Watkins: Mr Brown is trying to appear a lover of peace and concord, but it won't come off

Published: 26 November 2006

No wonder they think there will be no party with an overall majority

Alan Watkins

Alan Watkins: After Iraq, reform will be Blair's great achievement - can Brown keep that up?

Alan Watkins: So, who will claim Mr Prescott's job? I see no neat ending to this long Labour

Alan Watkins: Gordon Brown could win an election but, after Iraq, I will never vote Labour again

Alan Watkins: 'He's a fine looking man, no mistake about that. What a pity he is such a bloody liar'

Alan Watkins: Transfer of power has been so drawn out we've already tired of premier Brown

Alan Watkins: It's bad for Blair, and Brown suffers, too. The Chancellor must now be challenged

Alan Watkins: It's not a contest that causes bitterness, but the lack of one. Ask Gordon Brown

Alan Watkins: A little voice may be telling Mr Brown to call a snap election. He should listen to it

Alan Watkins: Gordon Brown is as much to blame for the state of the nation as Tony Blair

Alan Watkins: Ming is too obliging. He has committed the cardinal sin of all third party leaders

Alan Watkins: The Prime Minister, the prime minister in waiting and the shadowy Third Man

Alan Watkins: Mr Meacher is far from being a louse or a flea. But he is a mite too puritanical for me

Alan Watkins: Will Mr Brown get the credit he is due in Mr Blair's retirement speech? I doubt it

Alan Watkins: There is a mayfly in the ointment for the Brown coronation. Let's call it Mrs Beckett

Alan Watkins: Unless Yates of the Yard is the Grand Old Duke of York, then Mr Blair will have to go

Alan Watkins: Even the most servile realise Mr Blair's time is up, but who will lead the coup?

Alan Watkins: Prime ministers are prey to delusion. I am filled with apprehension for Mr Brown

Alan Watkins: An influx of one-legged Romanian roofers and plumbers? Someone had to pay

Alan Watkins: Mr Brown is as much to blame as anyone for Labour being 'in a rut' over Iraq

Master Alan Watkins' Almanac: Master Blair has a clever Scheam. He is desirous to make Peace with Mr Brown

Alan Watkins: There were eras of Wilson and Thatcher. Will there be an age of Brown? I doubt it

Alan Watkins: Farewell, my old friend Frank Johnson - from urchin to editor, with wit and style

Alan Watkins: When the Chancellor enters No 10, he should give this non-job a decent burial

Alan Watkins: Polly, like many upper-class women, tends to think she knows best what people need

Alan Watkins: Mr Brown is trying to appear a lover of peace and concord, but it won't come off

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