He did land a job that involved processing the results of a student survey, in which respondents were asked how they rated the chances of God existing, on a scale from one to five. Another temporary task lasted for two months, or should have done; he was supposed to compile a chart about Commonwealth students in higher education but, defeated by his own complex system for calculating this, he did a runner.Somehow, he did manage to earn enough to stay (a) alive and (b) in England long enough to qualify for a grant to go to Cambridge University. And that's where I met him, in the room above mine inhabited by a fellow-Footlights member. Our first encounter is unaccountably missing from his otherwise wonderful memoirs, Always Unreliable (Picador, £12.99), but I recall being amazed that he had been through more jobs than I had eaten hot dinners in Hall.His most recent paymaster had been Penguin Books. He had initially asked them to publish his collected works: a rash suggestion, as he had yet to write them. (The Book of My Enemy, his collected verse, was finally published two years ago - by Picador.) He was offered a job filing photographs.This was more important than it sounded, as Penguin had just spent a fortune replacing all the covers of two books, one by a Professor Thompson, the other by a different Professor Thomp-son. The Thompson not-twins understandably disliked the fact that their mugshots decorated each other's books. James's task was to enforce quality control, which he did by placing the snaps into envelopes and arranging the authors alphabetically.

He would then fish out the right writer on request (apart from once, when confusion arose between a Bernard Wolfe and a Bertram Wolfe ("At least I didn't send them Virginia Woolf").This job took so little time that James could also write poetry and take a nap, thus freeing up his nights for drinking. Just like student life, really.Details of Clive James's forthcoming tour with the singer Pete Atkin are on jonty jonathansale . Tony Blair has shelved plans to bring in a new law to safeguard the independence of the Civil Service and it is now unlikely to be enacted while he is Prime Minister. Although the Government is committed "in principle" to a Civil Service Act, it has been quietly dropped by Mr Blair. He is said to believe it would be "more trouble than its worth" and would shine an unwelcome spotlight on the role of politically appointed special advisers. Officially, Mr Blair wants to focus on reforming Whitehall's traditional culture as part of his drive to modernise public services before he stands down as Prime Minister, probably in 2007 or 2008. But his decision not to proceed with legislation on the Civil Service will disappoint critics who claim that a statutory code is needed to protect the impartiality of Civil Service from political pressure.Since coming to power in 1997, Labour has been accused of transferring power from neutral officials to party political aides such as Jo Moore, who became embroiled in a bitter struggle with civil servants after saying that 11 September was a "good day to bury bad news". The proposed Act would introduce a legally binding code of conduct for officials and political aides.

It has been demanded by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, the anti-sleaze watchdog, and the Commons Public Administration Select Committee. Although the Government responded by publishing a draft Bill last November, there is no sign of a final version and sources now say that it will not emerge before Mr Blair stands down.The First Division Association, which represents the most senior officials, accused the Government of procrastinating and said i t would keep up the pressure for a new law. Jonathan Baume, its general secretary, said: "An Act is not about stopping change but ensuring that change should have the authority of Parliament behind it and preventing a future government from damaging the values of the Civil Service."Sir Richard Wilson, who was head of the Civil Service until three years ago, backed legislation but never fully convinced Mr Blair, who also turned down his plea for a cap on the number of political advisers, whose ranks have doubled since 1997.In his valedictory speech this week, Sir Andrew Turnbull, who stands down as the Civil Service's head this summer, reflected the mood at the top of the Government by saying that an Act could "do actual harm" and "is likely to disappoint its champions and could bring unwanted problems". Some provisions could be introduced on a non-statutory basis, he said.Sir Alistair Graham, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has written to the leaders of the three main political parties to seek a consensus on an Act and called for it to be passed "shortly" by Parliament.. James Callaghan was hailed as the greatest prime minister for a generation yesterday when nearly 2,000 guests attended a service at Westminster Abbey in his memory. The Prince of Wales joined senior politicians at the ceremony paying tribute to the lives of the former Labour leader and his wife Audrey. He died at his home in East Sussex in March just before his 93rd birthday and 11 days after his wife's death.Lord Callaghan of Cardiff, nicknamed Sunny Jim, was unique in occupying the four offices of state; Chancellor, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister.

He was in Downing Street for three years before being defeated by Margaret Thatcher in 1979.In his address, Lord Healey, the former chancellor, described Lord Callaghan as "the greatest prime minister since Clem Attlee". He said: "Jim was a great man with a great wife and theirs was a great marriage for which we should all be grateful."Baroness Williams of Crosby, former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords, recalled that when Lord Callaghan was asked whether he was New Labour or Old Labour, he responded: "Original Labour".She spoke of his common touch and said he had always maintained his personal authority, "openness and modesty". Baroness Williams said Labour lost the 1979 general election not because of him but in spite of him.. Two women were arrested at gunpoint at Liverpool Street station in central London today on suspicion of terrorism, police confirmed. The suspects were pinned to the ground in a dramatic swoop on the station concourse, which was evacuated as a suspect package was checked. Scotland Yard confirmed that the women are in custody, but said it was "too early to say" if they are being detained in connection with the London transport network attacks.

Witnesses said more than 10 officers, some armed and in plain clothes, descended on the suspects and ordered them to stretch out on the floor. Passengers were ordered out of the Tube and mainline stations for over an hour. "We can confirm that two women were arrested under the Terrorism Act on the main concourse at Liverpool Street Station earlier today," said a Scotland Yard spokeswoman. "They remain in custody but it is too early to say if they are connected to the London attacks." Both women were said to be wearing traditional Muslim dress. One is thought to have been in a queue for the Stansted Express when she was pushed to the ground by police It is thought one of the two was carrying a rucksack. Artur Yeroshin, 21, an Estonian now living in Plaistow, east London, took video footage of the arrests on his mobile phone. It showed officers stretching over both women, who were laid on their fronts several metres apart He said: "The two girls who were arrested were in their 20s.