In the Westminster bubble, every word is pored over to assess hidden messages. So was Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), dropping a monster hint at the recent CRE-Law Society joint-sponsored Solicitors Race Equality Awards? Referring to the fact that his time at the top of the CRE is nearly up as he moves on to take the head post at the newly-created super equalities body, Mr Phillips quipped that it was a 'week of positively last appearances', coinciding as it did with Tony Blair's swan song as Prime Minister at the Labour Party conference. 'But,' said Mr Phillips with a nod to Lord Falconer, who was also at the awards event, 'at least Charlie will still be Lord Chancellor this time next year - at least, I think he will be.' Cue the deafening sound of Westminster turf accountants opening books on who will be the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (aka Lord Chancellor) next autumn.