Turning Japanese: Brown regrets but does not apologise

Much as the Japanese cannot bring themselves to apologise to the Chinese for the brutal treatment they dished out in the 1920's and 1930's (which makes any colonial behaviour by the Western Powers seem like the opening credits to Till Death us do Part in comparison), so Gordon Brown only expresses regret.

How right Dan Hannan was when he spoke about Gordon's pathological incapacity for doing so.

The letters appear to talk around the outcomes and the impact on the wider world of politics. It does not speak about the fact that someone was responsible for employing those people and what that implies about the culture in No10 - what was acceptable and what was an instant dismissal offence.

As I say, a fish rots from the head.