Why honour deal that had come unstuck?

Gordon Brown and Jack McConnell have, at best, a distant relationship. Any notion that the Prime Minister offered Mr McConnell the post of High Commissioner to Malawi in recognition of the work he has done for that country is misplaced. The job was produced at the height of Mr Brown's powers to entice Mr McConnell away from the leadership of Scots Labour after the Holyrood election defeat last year.

The wisdom of removing Mr McConnell in order that he could be replaced by Wendy Alexander was found wanting. With Ms Alexander's leadership over, the Prime Minister was faced with honouring a deal designed to secure a political fix that had already come unstuck. Moreover, keeping his word meant the probability of another by-election defeat and all that would mean for his own political survival.

Add to that the argument from Ms Alexander's supporters that Mr McConnell failed to support her as she fought accusations of illegal donations and the temptation of backtracking on a promise to send Mr McConnell to Malawi was too great for the Prime Minister.

The new role of special envoy to the developing world is an important one. But that does not diminish the fact that this is a fix designed to sort another fix that went wrong. And in appointing Mr McConnell on a part-time basis Mr Brown is encouraging a system of politicians moonlighting, something which the Scottish Parliament has always discouraged.

Given his interests in the developing world Mr McConnell can be relied upon to do a good job but it is one that has been given for the wrong reasons and will be carried out in the wrong circumstances.