The Grand Hotel, Scarborough, was the largest hotel in Europe when it opened in 1867. The fish finger was invented in Great Yarmouth.But the Interior also has much to commend it. Few countries, surely, can match the variety of landscape contained in even one of our counties, and, with rare thoughtfulness, local authorities have created a calm and steadying contrast by permitting and sometimes persuading every town, no matter where, to make its high street exactly like every other. And the survey showing British Airways to be best on lost baggage, with an average of only five passengers per flight left staring forlornly at the half-unwrapped parcel and broken buggy making their melancholy circuits of the carousel. No, staying behind is the thing, I now see We domestics have been the more exclusive since 1998. You will recognise us not only from our attractive pallor, but from that air of environmental superiority which we cannot conceal.And Britain does have such a lot to offer. This month will be particularly good for getting around, too, as those who remain will spend much of the time in front of their new widescreen television sets (John Lewis, 85 per cent increase in sales), in the middle part at least.Where to go? Well, the Victorian Society has just launched a campaign promoting our resorts, and there is no doubting their delights and distinctions, of which space, sadly, allows only these: Napoleon III based the boulevards of Paris on that magnificent thoroughfare, Lord Street, Southport, after a stay there as a young man (in Lancashire, Paris is known as "The Southport of the South"). Then there was that Lancashire teacher who took 30 hours to fly from France to Manchester, and the poor woman who took five days and three airports to get to Jersey.

In the past few days, for example, two cruise ships have been forced to abandon voyage. I gave up cruising for fear of encountering Keith Harris and Orville, and in these cases it was also stomach trouble. Recent brief outbreaks of sunshine have shown this country in a different light. I had been regretting the conspiracy of circumstance - absence of initiative, finance and friendship with an Italian prince - which prevents me from holidaying abroad this year, but now I'm not so sure. Have any of you, given the current confusions, wondered if you'll be allowed back in? Exactly And that is only the half of it. In this context, it is hardly surprising that Mr Prescott's peers in the Labour Party are already beginning to stake a claim to his job: hesitation is rarely rewarded in politics..

Whatever one's opinion on the recent treatment of John Prescott, Tony Blair's decision to strip him of his ministerial responsibilities, and Mr Prescott's relinquishment of his grace-and-favour country home last week, shows that his political career is in its dying days. As long as Labour remains in power, the successful candidate would also automatically inherit the office of deputy leader of the country. A number of Labour ministers have, either directly or indirectly, signalled their interest in the position in recent weeks. Harriet Harman, Peter Hain, Alan Johnson, Jack Straw and Hazel Blears are circling the post of deputy leader of the Labour Party.

The consequences, if it emerges that the police have mistakenly shot another innocent member of the public, could be disastrous.. All of a sudden, the post of Deputy Prime Minister seems to be the most desirable job in British politics. Public confidence in the Metropolitan Police has been gravely damaged by the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes in July. But other than those few details, and some unconfirmed rumours about a "chemical bomb", we are largely in the dark.