would:
```
return sorted(a) == sorted(b)
``` 
do the same thing? Seems to work for me.

I would also move this to SubManFixture.assert_items_equals, to mirror self.assert_equal_dict (and the 2.7 equiliv is self.assertItemsEquals), and make it assert, ideally with a useful message showing the difference (which the sorted compare doesnt help with, but alas... maybe an assert_equal_list?, maybe getting off target...)