According to Jack Straw, the UK's Secretary of State for Justice, 'It's Official'.
In a statement issued by the Department of Justice, the Secretary of State has confirmed that it is indeed now official.
However, with the country in recession and the potential for an election next year, Mr Straw cannot commit to precicely what is is that is official.
His Personal Private Secretary went as far as to say that is is now no longer unofficial, which must come as a relief to the Prime Mininster, and this stamp of approval from the Secretarey of State will no doubt be welcomed by various police chiefs, judges and window cleaners throughout the country.
David Heath, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Justice was quick off the mark with his response. "We have been asking the Secretary of State to make it official for months now, and I am glad that he has had the courage and conviction to so do. It is just completely unacceptable for it to have been unofficial for so long."
Chambers of Commerce, Trade Unions, professional bodies and even the Tate Gallery have welcomed this decision to make it official, although Jade Goody was having difficulty spelling 'official', having included the letters 's', 'h' and 'u' and not necessarily in that order.
