SUBTLE NEW SHOOTS EMERGE ALL AROUND

Is something changing for the better for us? I ask this question having just finished reading the analysis of Nickers' speech on the BBC website by Reeta Chakrabarti. Her observations were measured, sensible and, crucially, demonstrated that she had actually listened to (or read in full) the speech before committing digits to keyboard. She also omitted the usual cliches about the third party, beards and sandals, Tory/Labour wannabees etc etc ad nauseaum.

I also read a report in the Independent on Monday by the usually dismissive Simon Carr in which he also seems to have betrayed an uncanny ability to, er, notice us and to hear what we are on about.

This is all very rum but it might just hint at a new direction for the narrowly focused supertanker that is political commentary in this country. If the hacks are starting to change their tune about us we might be on to something - in which case I'll up my score for Nickers' speech to 9 out of 10.

I shall of course tune into Newsnight this evening to reassure myself that the boorish, blinkered Paxman remains hostile to us in keeping with his tired, shouty persona.