I've got a little list

Journalists love lists, hence the interest in the IEA's Nanny State Index.

I have some experience of this because in 1998 I was editing the monthly Mensa magazine (I was a hired hand not a member) when I came up with the light-hearted idea of evaluating each member of the Labour Cabinet for their 'political quotient' (PQ).

The aim was to rank the 20 politicians by assessing their perceived intelligence and political acumen.

The theory was you could be intelligent but lack political ability, and vice versa. The politicians with the highest PQs would be those with the highest combined scores. We came up with a soundbite for each person and released our report, and accompanying league table, to the media.

Examples, in order, included:

Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
Political ability - 10
Intellectual ability - 8
Political Quotient - 90
"Brains behind New Labour but not universally liked."

Jack Straw, Home Secretary
Political ability - 8
Intellectual ability - 7
Political Quotient - 75
"Likeable man of genuine conviction and decency."

David Blunkett, Education Secretary
Political ability - 7
Intellectual ability - 7
Political Quotient - 70
"Good all-rounder, able to brief and be briefed by his officials."

Tony Blair, Prime Minister
Political ability - 8
Intellectual ability - 5
Political Quotient - 65
"Man of action rather than man of letters. Excellent communicator."

Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Political ability - 6
Intellectual ability - 6
Political Quotient - 60
"More comfortable with Old Labour agenda. Henchman Charlie Whelan has not been his greatest asset."

John Prescott, Secretary of State for Environment and Transport
Political ability - 6
Intellectual ability - 3
Political Quotient - 45
"Does what his officials say, no matter how ridiculous."

George Robertson, Defence Secretary
Political ability - 4
Intellectual ability - 4
Political Quotient - 40
"Team player who runs the most right-wing department in government."

Robin Cook, Foreign Secretary
Political ability - 1
Intellectual ability - 6
Political Quotient - 35
"Regarded as arrogant; considered to be a series of accidents waiting to happen."

Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development
Political ability - 2
Intellectual ability - 4
Political Quotient - 30
"Mouth is bigger than her brain; lacks political finesse."

It was complete bunkum of course but we had a lot of fun doing it.

The outcome was spectacular. Our league table, with Peter Mandelson at the top, was featured in numerous newspapers. One or two reports are still available online. 

One or two referred to an "anonymous jury" of 12 people being responsible for our PQ table.

By coincidence the Nanny State Index was also compiled by an unnamed panel of 'experts'. The similarities end there, I'm sure.