As the general election rushes ever closer and GPs desert Labour in droves, 2009 is already beginning to look like a year of comebacks for politicians from the past - particularly former health secretaries.
Gordon Brown is desperately looking around for former ministerial talent to boost his chances of remaining in power, and, having already brought back Peter Mandelson, we now hear that Alan Milburn, the original champion of foundation trusts, is going to be advising the government on social mobility issues.
On the other side of the political spectrum, David Cameron is taking flak for refusing to rule out a return for Kenneth Clarke. He, of course, is the health secretary who introduced the internal market and infamously characterised GPs as ‘nervously reaching for their wallets' when he mentioned the word ‘reform.'
If this carries on we could even see the return of Patricia Hewitt. And if that happens it will be time to wheel out one of the most memorable newspaper headlines in general election history: ‘Will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights'.