The untimely death of Ken Hardeman leaves a gaping hole in the Birmingham cabinet, which will not be easy to fill.
Hardeman held the regeneration portfolio, a sensitive position in a city which seems to see new buildings as a virility symbol – the bigger and taller, the better.
Regeneration is one of the six cabinet posts gifted to the Conservative half of the Tory-Lib Dem coalition, but there is hardly a huge list of candidates who could be drafted in to fill the position. By Iron Angle's estimate, no more than six of the 38 Tory councillors outside of the cabinet would either want or be capable of doing the job.
Council leader Mike Whitby, sunning himself on a beach in Barbados while his beach in Birmingham sinks slowly under a deluge of rain, is said to be mulling over an extensive cabinet reshuffle in which portfolios would be changed and new-blood promoted.
Who, though, will be entrusted with the regeneration ticket?
There are only two backbenchers with cabinet experience. The rumbustious John Alden, whose term in charge of leisure, sport and culture could hardly be described as a success, would certainly talk a good game but is unlikely to get the nod. Nigel Dawkins, who was cabinet regeneration member for a few weeks in 2004 before falling out with Whitby over the German market, has recently been selected as prospective Tory candidate for Selly Oak and might enjoy the high profile a reappearance in the cabinet would give him.
Len Clark, the best speaker in the council chamber by a distance, would put the wind up officials but an inability to suffer fools gladly probably puts him out of the frame.
Outside of that there are the young Turks, or what passes for young in the Conservative Party.
The very ambitious Tim Huxtable, presently Tory group secretary, must fancy his chances, as would Mark Hill, who chairs the regeneration scrutiny committee.
And for an outside bet: step forward Bruce Lines, son of cabinet housing member John.
A father and son at the top table? It could happen.
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Let's hope the jobsworth at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who refused to allow Birmingham City Council to fly its flag at half mast to mark the death of Ken Hardeman is feeling proud of himself.
Hardeman, the most decent and gentle of men, died on Tuesday. His colleagues wanted to lower the council flag as a gesture of respect. No problem there, you might think. After all, it's their flag.
But, no. Unfortunately July 17, the day of Hardeman's death, is an official Government flag day, it being the birthday of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. According to DCMS rules, the Union Flag must be flown at full mast all day.
Quite why council chiefs didn't simply ignore such pretentious nonsense is beyond me.
Perhaps they feared being thrown into the Tower.
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Confession time. I have never even been offered cannabis, let alone smoked it.
This may explain why Iron Angle has not, yet, been asked to join Gordon's Government of all the talents.
I did, however, once have a liking for a fine cigar.
Not inhaling, naturally.