Tony Blair, memorably, once said he was prepared to meet his maker to answer for his mistakes. Fair enough, you say. Unfortunately, it seems he wants to take us with him.

Sign the pledge and see if we can’t get the Government to bung our eggheads a few more quid and buy a few more vaccinations. Or at least get the Strepsils and Lemsips in.

“I will write to my MP to request that he demands the Government dramatically increase it’s funding and preparation to meet the threat raised by H5N1 Avian Influenza virus. but only if 10 other people will too.”

Needless to say, as it stands there’ll be enough vaccine for Blair and his family but almost certainly not for yours or mine. There are doubts however about whether there are enough current stocks of the vaccine to stretch to innoculating David Blunkett’s flock of birds.

Like MMR, I wonder if Tony will refuse to publicly state whether little Leo has had the vaccination. I doubt the Blairs will be umming and aahing too much over bird flu jabs. I mean, is there a homeopathic variety?

I think the government might have shot themselves in the foot with this one. Ok, there may be enough for our leaders and attendant hangers-on, but what about the bloke who puts toothpaste of the Prince of Wales’ toothbrush or the woman who applies Tony Blair’s panstick?

It’ll be like that planet in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy after they get rid of all their telephone cleaners and hairdressers. Britain will come to a careering halt. Imagine David Cameron trying to clean his own cludgie. Bleurgh.