Roll up, roll up for the transport secretary's magical mystery tour

Until Patrick McLoughlin makes a decision when a decision is to be made, the destination for UK airport expansion will remain unknown

"I'm completely aware of the limitations of my talents," said the amiable and good-natured Andrew Jones, minister for minibuses. It's rare to find such self-knowledge on the government benches, but the Department of Transport does better than most in developing a denial of the self among its incumbents.

Back in July, the prime minister said he would definitely announce his decision on airport expansion in the south-east by the end of the year. Suitably encouraged, the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, chose the Conservative party conference in October to announce that, he too, would definitely be announcing his decision on airport expansion in the south-east by the end of the year. It began to look as if there was a better than even chance the two decisions might be the same.