IN the run-up to last June's General Election, Tony Blair made a blatantly party-political speech at a school. His words went right over the heads of his immediate audience, and, rightly, the inappropriateness of his platform drew much comment. But he persists with this ill-judged practice.

Addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry in Bangalore, Blair delivered a speech about Britain's role in the world that was clearly intended chiefly for domestic consumption. The bosses of Indian industry must have been brought to the edge of their seats when he said:

"It is using the strengths of our history, our geography, our language, the unique set of links with the US, Europe, the Commonwealth, our position within the UN and Nato, the skills and reputation of our armed services and our contribution to debt and development issues, to be a pivotal player, to be that force for good for our own nation and the wider world. I have been clear for some time that that is our role.''

Call me cynical if you will, but I wonder if Blair is already setting out his stall for his post-PM career, which will almost certainly start at the next General Election? Is he presenting himself as the new Henry Kissinger, whose 'shuttle' or 'whistle stop' diplomacy occupied so much of the news bulletins in the 1970s? Not to any great effect, since, the Cold War apart, which was ended almost single-handedly by Mikhail Gorbachev, the trouble spots Blair would seek to calm are pretty much those that proved immune to the American emissary.

WELL, blow me. No sooner had I expressed my puzzlement last week at the thumbs up given to our big Christmas spend by the economic gurus, who used to foresee doom in too many imports, than Sir Edward George, Governor of the Bank of England, revealed that the spending spree wasn't such a good thing after all.

Announcing that interest rates might have to rise to stifle the consumer boom, he said: "Our economy will soon be accelerating at a pace that will not be sustainable if the global economy recovers before consumer spending slows. That would be the circumstance in which we would have to act to slow down consumer spending.'' I dare to hope there's at least one of you out there who can explain that in a way the rest of us will understand.

HAD it borne the date April 1, the news item about Darlington-on-Sea, a tourist destination promoted by the British Resorts Association, would have been greeted as an April Fool spoof. Truth is, such improbable items appear every day. Here are three I have spotted over the Christmas-New Year period. Scientists are developing a Christmas tree that will illuminate itself. Farmers in Thailand are using fake crocodiles to protect their crops. Bus shelters in Bradford are to have wind turbines, whose power will warm the seats of waiting passengers. (And here's a fourth: Sacked Railtrack chief still drawing £300,000 a year. Oh yes. Absolutely true.)

QUOTED by The Daily Telegraph, a Master of the Household (the Queen's that is) says Her Majesty ""will mimic anyone and anything. If you shut your eyes she's as good as Rory Bremner.'' This we all have to hear, and if possible see. It could save the monarchy.