The Economist surveys the field:
Leading the pack now is Sir Hugh Orde, Northern Ireland's chief policeman, who holds counter-terrorism experience as his trump card. Keeping the peace in Belfast is good preparation for the delicate diplomacy required to keep Ms Smith, Mr Johnson and the media on side. Sir Hugh also impresses policy-minded folk, musing in May, for example, that the government should consider talking to al-Qaeda as he had done to the IRA.
It adds:
(Having a mind of his own may count against him in the eyes of his political masters, of course.)
Good point. I'd have freed it from its brackets. Now read on.
