Gordon Brown's office behind the Speaker's chair is a hive of activity. Ministers are being summoned in, terminated and then sent out again, clutching resignation letters. Richard Caborn, the sports minister and friend of John Prescott, is one such victim.
He will be going late into the night with this. Indeed, someone carrying six Tesco bags has just one in, and Ian Austin, Mr Brown's former spin doctor turned Parliamentary aide, can be seen through the windows drinking Champagne at a mini party in one of Mr Brown's outer Parliamentary offices.
No doubt he will continue long into the night. But they are keen to keep the information from the media so that it can all be presented in one magnificent flourish at midday tomorrow. The Brown era has begun.
We don't know and they wont confirm.
But here are our best guesses. Alistair Darling for Chancellor. David Miliband for Foreign Secretary. Jack Straw for Justice. Geoff Hoon for chief whip. Harriet Harman for Leader of the Commons, as well as Party Chair. Alan Johnson or John Hutton for health. Training and higher education will become part of the DTI. Des Browne moves. Margaret Beckett leaves the Foreign Office but we do not know if she remains in government.
It's becoming clearer who is on the way out. Margaret Beckett has been bidding farewell to staff. Patricia Hewitt similarly. Brown will apparently wield his knife on others in his Commons office later tonight.
But as for who's coming into his first Cabinet; that's far more fluid. David Miliband has been mentioned in connection with most major jobs in the past hour. John Hutton, once earmarked for the axe, also appears likely to survive, maybe at health?
No Cabinet names - they are coming tomorrow around 12pm. No information about restructuring Whitehall. No big policy announcements. So what did we learn from Mr Ellam, who asked to be called in print the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman?
Firstly bringing outsiders into government is a Big Deal to them. These figures will be outside the Cabinet, and their names will emerge on Friday. "It is only when you see the names on Friday that you will understand what the Prime Minister meant by a government of all the talents."
Secondly, he was somewhat equivocal about Mr Blair's new role as Middle East Envoy. Asked what he thought about the appointment, he replied: "They are members of the Quartet" and gave no elaboration. Asked how Mr Brown felt went signing off the request from Mr Blair to resign, he replied: "businesslike".
Thirdly they could be in danger of heading into a spin row over an announcement .... over the end of spin. The spokesman said that his first act as Prime Minister was to revoke the orders which allow special advisers to direct civil servants - powers enjoyed by Jonathan Powell and Alastair Campbell. But it was quickly pointed out that none of the incoming team would have similar powers, so his first act was effectively meaningless.
On other matters, the Prime Minister will live above either Number 10 or Number 11, but has not decided which one. He will "probably" use Chequers occasionally, both with his family and for government.
Also, the Brown team have effectively set a deadline of 12 to complete the reshuffle. This could prove tricky if people try and argue with his plans....
For the moment, we are in a largely fact free zone.
Michael Ellam, Gordon Brown's new official spokesman, will be briefing the press at 5pm, but who is up and who is down is purely specuative even though, we are told, most Ministers of State have a pretty good idea of their fate already.
Meanwhile, in slightly mad fashion, both houses of Parliament go on with their business. The Commons is discussing the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill, while the Lords is debating the Offender Management Bill.
Our democracy is safe.
 Apparently the Department for Education and Skills may be split in two. One half will deal with schools, while the other will oversee further education, including science. More breathless rumours - which will be hopefully quickly forgotten if wrong - imminently
 Is Margaret Beckett going to provide Gordon Brown with his first headache? Over the last few days, she has mounted a major offensive to try and hang on to her job at the Foreign Office. Working in her favour is the dearth of many women in the Cabinet, and the fact that foreign affairs will not be a Brown priority, so forcing her out risks political capital in an area he isn't focusing on.
But given Mr Brown's promise an hour ago to "change", it seems inconceivable that he could leave her in place. If she refuses another job, does he have the guts to sack her altogether?
Workmen have removed the sign on the front of the Department for Trade and Industry. They later put it back up, according to the Press Association.
 Cherie Blair stormed out of a dinner last night to confront an American film crew standing outside Downing Street. "Thanks for spoiling my dinner party and you're not even British," she told them, according to a photographer who overheard the exchange.
 Gordon Brown's emotional entry into Downing Street suggests three things about his premiership.
1. There will certainly be people from outside Labour joining the government. Aside from Paddy, now Lord Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader and Lord Stevens, the former Met Police commissioner, team Brown have clearly managed to keep some names quiet. These will emerge over the next 24 hours.
One side effect is to put Menzies Campbell in a worrying situation. The Liberal Democrat leader has said three times in the last week that there will definitely be no-one from his party in the new Brown government. But Mr Brown inists he will have a government of all the talents. If any Liberal Democrats defies Ming and joins team Brown, he will look weakened.
2. He has promised "change" in the NHS. This will be one of the greatest areas of greatest contrast with the Blair era.
3. Mr Brown is still uneasy in front of the cameras, although Mrs Brown comes across very well on television. Meanwhile Mr Blair still seems keen to upstage them, pictured going by train to Sedgefield followed by a phalanx of photographers. He was even carrying his own bags.
His premiership started at 2.48pm
Well the technicians inside Downing Street couldn't wait for the Queen. Even before Gordon Brown has emerged from the Palace as Britain's 52nd Prime Minister, his appointment has been announced on the Number 10 website. http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp
Sky and the BBC are desperately filling airtime while Gordon spends longer than expected at the Palace. One broadcaster, looking at the empty Palace courtyard, observed: "At the end of the day, a car is just a car."
There are persistent rumours the BBC has been promised the identity of the new Chancellor for the news at 6pm. Will he be telling the names of the new Cabinet to the Queen?
 In the febrile atmosphere that is Westminster, there is another Tory defection rumour - John Bercow, the thoughtful MP for Buckingham. It's important to stress Mr Bercow has denied this to The Times as recently as this morning. But it would be an amazing coup for Gordon Brown to bring a second Tory MP into the fold.
But the fate that awaits Quentin Davies may persuade him otherwise. According to one top Tory, "MPs want revenge and will use every opportunity to humiliate him. Expect stories about his butler, or his sheep (he was once fined for failing to look after his flock), in the papers in coming weeks. He needs to watch out."
Update I've just bumped into a Tory who said that the latest rumour is that Bercow gets Hilary Benn's job, the Department for International Development. Seems unlikely, but....
As she got in the Prime Minister's car, known as Pegasus, Cherie shouted to the photographers and scribblers "We wont miss you at all".
And she meant it.
We are about to enter a very bizarre period in British politics. At 1.10pm, Tony Blair will see the Queen and resign as Prime Minister. At 1.40pm she will see Gordon Brown and will ask him to form a new government.
But who is in charge in the intervening 30 minutes? Tom Kelly, Mr Blair's official spokesman, said this was a "silly" question. But the answer is, notionally, Sir Gus O'Donnell, head of the civil service.
Hopefully he will enjoy his brief period in charge
 What was missing in the first half of PMQs today was more than made up in the second half. It had theatre, tears and wit, and ended with a standing ovation for Mr Blair, including the opposition.
Mr Blair's put down of the Liberal Democrat's Richard Younger-Ross showed his mastery of the occasion. Asked about the future of the church in politics, he simply replied "I think I'm really not bothered about that one", and sat down, to cheers.
Asked to promise a referendum on the new EU treaty by a Eurosceptic Tory MP, refused and added to laughter: “Au revoir, auf wiedersehen and arrivederci”.
Mr Blair also told MPs of an urgent letter which arrived by post yesterday at No 10. “Details of employee leaving work. Surname: Blair; first name: T. It said actually: Mr, Mrs, Miss or other. This form is important to you, take good care of it, P45,” he read to laughter.
At the end came the standing ovation. The Conservatives briefly prevaricated over whether they should take part, with Julie Kirkbridge leading the applause before Mr Cameron waved to his party to stand and cheer.
And then it was over. Gordon Brown's era begins in the next hour
Mr Blair started his last pmqs by paying trubute to the armed forces, surprising some by using the 's' word.
'I am truly sorry for the dangers our armed forces face,' he told the chamber.
David Cameron asked about the floods, followed by the Middle East. He then congratulated his rival for 'enduring achievements' and wished him well.
Cherie whispered 'that was nice' from the gallery above.
Sir Menzies Campbell took a tougher line, asking about casualties of war before extending his parties' best wishes.
Cherie said nothing.
We are half way through pmqs, and Blair has not yet been given the chance to show off his talents.
 Quentin Davies is in the Commons chamber and has been taken to the Labour benches, to cheers and shouts of more from Labour benches. He crossed the floor with Gillian Merron, a low profile Labour MP in a neighbouring seat. He is two rows behind Blair (and circled) but looks somewhat uncomfortable.
We are also having a Leo moment in the Commons chamber. Mr Blair's youngest is there with Cherie, Euan and Kathryn. No Nicky yet (too cool?), although we are told there will be a family photo shortly. In the row behind is Cherie's former foe Anji Hunter.
Improbable as it may seem, some hard news emerged from the last lobby. Blair spent last night on the phone to President Putin. But were they talking about government business? Seems unlikely ... top of the agenda will no doubt be Mr Blair's hopes of becoming a Middle East envoy.
If the appointment isn't confirmed today, will Blair still resign as an MP later today in Sedgefield?
11.30 The Parliamentary press corps came as close as they ever have to showing emotion. The event was the final performance of Tony Blair's official spokesman, Tom Kelly, in front of the Lobby. Mr Kelly is bowing out to be replaced this afternoon by Michael Ellam, who has worked closely with Gordon Brown at the Treasury.
Asked what he was going to do after leaving office, Mr Kelly replied: "I'm thinking of sueing the Press Association. Yesterday they described me as affable. For years I've been described in the pages of the Daily Mail as a dour Ulsterman. I have a reputation to live up to." Jon Smith, Political Editor of the Press Association shot back: "Last time you wanted to correct a Press Association story, it turned out we right right all along".
Mr Kelly ended the briefing by urging the press corps to "look after" Mr Ellam.
10.45 Pictures from Downing Street show that everything that isn't nailed down is being put in the back of a removal van. Whisper it quietly, but is this one last piece of political showmanship from the Blair family? They've had weeks to prepare for this, but seem to have left lots of furniture in Downing Street until the very last minute. A cynic would say they are milking their departure for all it's worth.
10.30 The shape of Blair's future office is becoming clearer. An e-mail from Matthew Doyle, one of the Downing Street special advisers, reveals he is going to help run TB's new office, as political director, with responsibility for speaking to the media. Catherine Rimmer will be his strategic director and Victoria Gould the events manager. The website, currently down, will be http://www.tonyblairoffice.org/ The office is, of course, paid from the public purse. Ex prime ministers get around £90,000 a year to run their offices.
10.10 Quentin Davies is walking around the Commons, without minders, desperately trying not to catch people's eye. Both Labour and Tory MPs are saying privately they are looking forward to him defending Labour's record on civil partnerships and gay adoption...
9.30am So what, if you were David Cameron, would you ask at Prime Minister's Questions today. Michael Gove, Times columnist, Tory MP and friend of Mr Cameron, advises not trying to score to much political capital.
"I think I would probably find the opportunity to inquire into Mr Blair's future prospects and wish him well. There are a couple of issues in people's minds at the moment, such as flooding, but they are not political ones. You wouldn't want to bowl an entirely soft ball - it has to have an element of insousiance or wit - but it's Blair's day. It's a historic achievement so I would have thought the thing to do would be to allow him to bow out gracefully."
The longest farewell in British political history still has a few hours to go. Despite aides claiming he is "psychologically out the door of Number 10", Tony Blair will want to leave the political stage with the crowds baying for more, with a stella performance at Prime Minister's Questions and tearful exit from Number 10.
But by teatime, the country's 51st Prime Minister will no longer be in charge of the levers of power, able to launch nuclear missiles and play with the government machine. It will not be an easy day for someone who has been at the top of politics for 13 years.
In a day of theatre and drama, here is Times Online's tips for things to watch out for today:
Gordon Brown's face during Prime Minister's Questions. Mr Blair will undoubtedly be showing off, and every expects a shining piece of political theatre. But showmanship has always been one of Mr Blair's strongest cards, and will the Chancellor be watching with a touch of performance anxiety?
The reaction of Labour MPs to the 355th, and newest addition, Quentin Davies. He will be warmly welcomed onto the Labour benches a few moments before midday today, but after his 24 hours of fame, how well will this garrulous ex Tory, a lover of fine wines and horse riding, fit in.
Whether David Cameron registers at all today, or whether his contribution is swept away in the excitement of the change of government.
The first names in the Cabinet. Will Gordon Brown be saying "Can we afford this, Darling" to his new Chancellor later this evening?
Whether Harriet Harman, who won the deputy leadership contest on Sunday but was quickly sidelined by Mr Brown, is much in evidence today.
Whether commentators refer to Gordon Brown's new Cabinet as 'a new government'. He will certainly think of it as one. But the BBC have apparently been banned from using this phrase - there has, after all, been no election.
The position of Tony Blair's farewell on the evening news bulletins. Power fades away painfully quickly.
Nothing is left to chance today:
Noon Tony Blair attends his final Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons
Shortly after 1pm: Mr Blair will walk down the corridor from the Cabinet room to the entrance lobby of No 10. Staff will line the walls to applaud him out of office. Mr Blair and his wife, Cherie, will face a barrage of TV cameras and photographers as he climbs into his prime ministerial Jaguar for the five-minute drive to Buckingham Palace. Mrs Blair will wait in an anteroom while Mr Blair tenders his resignation to the Queen. Mr Blair and his wife will then be swept out of the Palace in a different car and will soon head for his Sedgefield constituency
After 1.30pm: Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, will arrive. The Queen will invite him to form a new government and he will agree. Mrs Brown will go in to see the Queen. They will climb into Pegasus and, accompanied by Mr Blair’s security detail, go to No 10, where Mr Brown will make a speech in the street before entering the building. He will work on his reshuffle and call a number of foreign leaders.
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