It hasn’t been a great year so far for cuddly Charles Clarke. He’s been called “immature” by the teachers’ unions for refusing to attend the NUT’s annual conference. He was accused of “pig ignorance and blind prejudice” for questioning the value of studying classics at university - and, let’s face it, that’s pretty hard to take from a man who studied philosophy. Then to round it all off, Mr Clarke’s 16-year-old son was banned from school for swearing at a member of staff. We say: Don’t worry, Charles. You’re not the only minister to be shamed by your offspring - take comfort in the fact that Euan Blair and Will Straw have done much, much worse.