Writing in The Times last week, Mary Ann Sieghart claimed Maude was caught plotting with Stephen Dorrell and Andrew Tyrie to get Andrew Lansley to run as the modernisers’ candidate. Maude told the Indy it was “pure fantasy” – Guido did wonder why they would choose Lansley, a latter day Major type figure. She also said Willets ought to be leader.

So she was wrong on both counts.

How times change, the second chamber was ‘an ancient indefensible relic…waiting to be blown away by New Labour’ according to Lord Adonis in 1997.

As for Tony Lord Banks…

Guido has cast his eye over Lord Drayson before. Remember him? The businessmen, who has been appointed as a Defence Minister, gave a £50,000 donation to the Labour party. Then had a business breakfast with the Prime Minister, gave a second donation of £50,000 to the Labour party while the government in 2001 was weighing up who should be awarded a £32m contract to supply vaccines in case of a biological attack by terrorists. His company Powderject was bidding on the contract, fortunately for him it did not go to tender. Kippers might not have been on the breakfast menu, but it was fishy. Surprise, Powderject got awarded the contract, making a quick £20m profit on it. What value for money for the taxpayer, what a return on investment!

Loaded now, he gave another £500,000 donation to New Labour, and got made a life peer by Mr Blair six weeks later. He sold his company two years later, trousered £100 million and joins the government today. Hey, that’s politics with integrity…

The appointment was defended by Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, who said Lord Drayson was a distinguished industrialist (translated, “big donor”). Guido understands that tomorrow the Sunday Times will be highlighting some “tax efficient” structures (translated, “dodges”) he used to save himself millions via offshore trusts. Gordon Brown has been cracking down on such structures. Tsk, tsk.

The Tory leadership race came up on Question Time, Dimbleby intervened “Before I ask Boris Johnson on this, I just want to take a question from the audience.” The audience member asked whether Boris should be leader and the whole audience started cheering. Boris, typically, mumbled some bemused appreciation and tried to answer the preceding point. David Dimbleby forced the issue. Boris eventually admitted he would love the job.

Boris? Guido bows to no-one in Boris appreciation (well maybe I am not as appreciative as BorisWatch), but PM? Boris once stated that he had as much chance of being Prime Minister as of being decapitated by a frisbee or of finding Elvis. He is now only 80 /1 at the bookies, so he best duck if he sees Elvis. If the Tory membership were given free reign they might just select him…

Therein lies the fears of Howard about the current system.

Howard told the meeting of the parliamentary party yesterday that ultra-moderniser Bercow and Ken Clarke acolyte and Europhile Ian Taylor were examples of how MPs should not behave if the party is to have a civilised discussion about its future.