On the way to Lancaster House last night I walked past the Sudanese Embassy in Cleveland Row, and the reason I noticed the Embassy, was the Mercedes with the registration SUD 1 parked outside.

The embassy faces St James’s Palace. You couldn’t get closer to the heart of UK establishment. You’d have thought the ambassdor would have understood the UK’s view on the naming of the ‘teddy ber drama’, and would have been able to influence the Sudanese government. Apparently not, judging by the idiotic defence of their actions on a recent Newsnight programme.

The failure of Sudan’s diplomatic service is mirrored in my mind by the failure of the Foreign Secretary, David Milliband, to have any impact in the drama. It was left to two muslim peers to put their reputations on the line, and they succeeded where the Government failed.

They both deserve praise for the moderate, yet resolute way they handled the crisis. Well done to both of them.