Three are formally decision making authorities: Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. The three others are only influential, but undoubtedly more efficient: the financial, the scientific and technological, and the media system. And this last one appears to be the only power system in our societies without any counter weight or counter power The checks and balances principle fails with the media.. Somewhere in the loft running the length of No 10 and No 11 Downing Street resides a monster - probably some sort of reptile akin to a boa constrictor.

It was born 30 years ago today, when Edward Heath became Prime Minister and Kenneth Clarke and John Prescott were first elected to Parliament. It has been growing larger by the year, feeding off and devouring government ministers and even developing a lethal appetite, on occasions, for Chancellors of the Exchequer and Prime Ministers. Mention of the words "Europe", "Exchange Rate Mechanism" or "Single Currency" in either of the residences downstairs sends the monster wild as it smashes through the ceiling in search of a tasty meal. Somewhere in the loft running the length of No 10 and No 11 Downing Street resides a monster - probably some sort of reptile akin to a boa constrictor. It was born 30 years ago today, when Edward Heath became Prime Minister and Kenneth Clarke and John Prescott were first elected to Parliament. It has been growing larger by the year, feeding off and devouring government ministers and even developing a lethal appetite, on occasions, for Chancellors of the Exchequer and Prime Ministers.

Mention of the words "Europe", "Exchange Rate Mechanism" or "Single Currency" in either of the residences downstairs sends the monster wild as it smashes through the ceiling in search of a tasty meal. In the early days of the Heath Government, disciplined and rigorously enforced, collective Cabinet responsibility kept the monster at bay. Occasionally, a junior minister, like Sir Teddy Taylor, would disagree with the European policy but he would resign, voluntarily, and the monster would be satisfied. The clarity of purpose - to join the European club at all costs - was so strong that a vague phrase "with the full-hearted consent of the British people" meant that the "r-word", a referendum, was not even contemplated.The Wilson Government of 1974 protected itself from the monster by granting a referendum on "re-negotiated terms of European entry" and the early years of the Thatcher Government were immune from the monster's predatory powers when the lady picked, and won, a fight with her European rivals over the UK budget contribution The monster slumbered contentedly. But along came Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson to argue with Thatcher All were subsequently devoured Then it was Norman Lamont's turn.

Finally, John Major and his entire party were eaten alive.Now the monster is stirring again, thanks to the latest row involving Gordon Brown, who appears to be squabbling with Robin Cook, Peter Mandelson and Stephen Byers The Prime Minister looks on, helpless. At some point in the not too distant future, one of these will fall victim to the monster, through his faithful agent "resignation".This Government will find that personality clashes will result in a bust-up, leading either to the resignation or sacking of Gordon Brown or the Foreign Secretary. The recent history of the Thatcher and Major Governments have already proved that, unless the Cabinet is united both on the policy and on the tactics of playing the European game, somebody gets badly hurt. The present Cabinet is riven with arguments between Robin Cook and Gordon Brown, which may barely be contained up to the general election but which will burst into a resignation crisis soon afterwards.The Chancellor has been absolutely determined to play for the long grass on the single currency, and now gives clear hints that his appetite for early entry is waning.

The suspicion must be that he is now against entry at all.Unfortunately for Mr Brown, the policy of the long grass has been blown apart by the determination of Messrs Cook, Mandelson and Byers - as much for reasons to do with cutting the Chancellor down to size - to put Europe onto the general election agenda. Mr Brown believes, rightly, that Europe, on the agenda as an election issue, is likely to be a winner for William Hague - notwithstanding the Tory leader's own difficulties. The Chancellor's Cabinet rivals, however, want an early referendum and believe that the general election is an essential opportunity to begin the task of changing a sceptical public into a more Euro-friendly state of mind.While the Chancellor has clearly lost the battle to kick for touch he will be even more determined to flex his increasingly Eurosceptic muscles. Europe and the single currency will, however, now dominate the campaign trail. Indiscipline looks like becoming a central feature of this administration in much the same way as it ruled during the Thatcher and Major Governments.It is simply not now in the character of Mr Brown and Mr Cook to be able to hide or bury their differences. Many commentators say it should be policy and not personality which drives Government. But more often than not it is the clash of personality which creates the desire between warring cabinet factions to seek out, deliberately, alternative policies.Mr Brown now has every incentive, for his long-term ambitions of becoming Prime Minister, to stress his growing Euroscepticism.