Big hitters? Undoubtedly.

And at a time when he is plumbing the lowest reaches of polling opinion, they are cutting chunks out of the man who is not only current PM but more relevantly the current leader of the New Labour project they still purport to support.

With friends like these who needs Conservatives ... ?

So can it get any worse for Gordon? Probably. On Monday night even Gail Platt on Coronation Street appeared to be distancing herself from Mr Brown. In an effort to talk up her liberal credentials she explained: "I'm a Blairite. I voted for Blair."

Tellingly Gail didn't add that she'd be voting for his successor. But should she switch party allegiance, she won't be alone.

New Labour's problems do not, of course, begin and end with Gordon Brown.

The economy, the perception of a growing tide of crime, the increase in petty legislation (in every sense), education, health, immigration. These will be major issues, no matter who's calling the shots in Downing Street.

But now add to this a new problem assailing what was once the seemingly unsinkable New Labour ship. The bitching, back-biting, point-scoring tomes being turned out by the party's former hierarchy — left, right and centre. It's said that when news of the publication date for Cherie's autobiography hit party chiefs, there was outright panic. Obviously they weren't expecting a boost from Mrs B then. And the nightmare is compounded by disclosures about inter-party wrangling in those books by Prezza and Lord Levy. The overall portrait is of a party riven by warring factions and petty grudges.

John Prescott reveals in his book: "With Tony, when he was moaning on about Gordon's behaviour, I'd say, 'Sack him, find a new Chancellor, if that's how you really feel.'

"Tony knew that sacking Gordon would tear the party apart." Oddly neither Prezza nor Lord Levy nor Mrs Blair appear to think that their memoirs might also help tear the party apart.

But that's precisely what they could do.

Maybe you don't judge a book by its cover. But you can't help but judge a political party by how it's covered.

And, never mind the recent election results, thanks to New Labour's 'write wing', all-out memoir meltdown would now appear to be on the books.