QUESTION: - Does Alistair Darling make a complete "Pratchett" of everything?

The aforementioned - "they" - say that "life" often imitates art, and so it appears to be the case with our dear (that is "dear" as in relation to the strain on the public purse) Alistair "Badger" Darling - the soon to be ex-Chancellor.

In 2007, departments in which he has responsibility for have so far lost two "discs" containing details of 25 million child benefit claimants; and we now learn that personal details of more than 3 million learner drivers have been lost in the latest blunder to Gordon Brown's Government.

If much more data is "Lost" none of us will know who we really are, and will spend the rest of our lives wandering around this strange island trying to find out what really is the truth. Those who have obtained the data, will have the ultimate power - but thankfully, at least it appears as though that should exclude the current government, who seem to know nothing and remember little.

And so, whether the UK turns into a giant "reality" series of"Lost", or whether Darling's period in office is more akin to Terry Pratchett's Discworld is yet to be seen.

Discworld is a comedic fantasy book series by the British author Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which are in turn standing on the back of a giant turtle.

Pratchett has also freely admitted to borrowing ideas from J. R. R. Tolkien and William Shakespeare, as well as myth, folklore and fairy tales, often using them for satirical parallels with current cultural, technological and scientific issues.

Darling has less than freely admitted to borrowing ideas from D. Cameron and George Osborne, as well as creating excuses based on myth, folklore and fairy tales, which have been identified by the press as satirical parallels with current cultural, economic and political issues.

In a sadder twist of the life mirroring art mirroring life (etc etc) theme,Terry Pratchett has very recently been diagnosed as suffering with dementia!!!