Bitten by a bat but kissed on stage

Mr Darling may think that, even when a mega-blunder occurs, a Chancellor of the Exchequer need not consider his position, but Times columnists take our responsibilities more seriously. Were anyone bitten by a bat to die of rabies on account of reading this column last week and taking my advice not to bother seeing a doctor, I would feel honour-bound to resign. So I had better cover myself.