A lesson in how not to end leadership speculation

Here are the last few lines of the interview with Harriet Harman in today’s Times:

“Is it not time for another woman British leader? Does she want the job if Gordon Brown is ousted?

Ms Harman looked flustered and consults her briefing paper. ‘I cannot remember the answer to that.'”

Ok, so it’s a probably a joke, a sign that she’s taking all the Westminster chatter with good humour. But I’m sure No.10 would have preferred something a little more unequivocal…