This I wrote elsewhere in a discussion about politics and public opinion:

'Courting the anger of small out-groups in order to prove himself to a broader public as acting bravely in the "greater interest" is such an established and successful Blairite technique that they are all at it: Cameron goading the right into denouncing him; Brown picking up Trident as a touchstone guaranteed to infuriate Lefties. Blair himself appears to have internalised technique as policy, believing that if he is irritating civil libertarians and better lawyers it is a sure sign he is in the right.'

And I think I was correct. Blair's destruction will follow, as he is already starting to broaden the principle to include the rest of his party and the public. "I don't care what you think." is not a sustainable position for a politician.

It does surprise me that no mainstream commentator appears to have spotted that this is what Brown is doing over Trident, positioning himself as trustworthy to the general public by prompting a group hate from the sandal-wearing left (whom the public definitely do not trust) while reserving his position on the more important matters of domestic policy that he might wish to change.