Oh, please!

Nothing would make the Tories more unelectable than the return of Michael Howard (1). So it is something to be wished for, fervently.

This is the man who supported the Section 28, which forbade the discussion promotion of homosexuality, backed the Poll Tax, bleated the tired lie the "Prison works," limited the right to silence (2) and wanted to manacle pregnant prisoners in labour (3).

Oh, and he was absolutely crushed by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight (4). He didn't manage to win the leadership in 1997 and failed to win them an election in 2005. Nothing like a repeat loser to bolsteryour election chances.

At the same time, if Labour could drag back Tony Blair, and make themselves similarly unelectable, perhaps some one else - someone not so corrupt, venal and hypocritical (The Liberal Democrats, perhaps) might actually win.

1 - "Michael Howard set for Cabinet return?," by Andrew Grice, published in THe Independent, 6th of Fenruary, 2009. (http://todayinpolitics.independentminds.livejournal.com/12361.html)
2 - All from the Wikipedia description of his political career as a cabint minister, retreived on the 7th of February, 2009: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Howard#In_government
3 - "Howard unchains pregnant prisoners," by Heather Mills in The Independent, 19th of January, 1996. Reproduced on encyclopedia.com. (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-4774726.html)
4 - Howard's infamous interview iwith Paxman took place on the 13th of May, 1997 and Howard refused to answer a question twelve times. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwlsd8RAoqI)