Commissioner Ian Blair knew his men had screwed up, and he knew they had screwed up big time. He tried initially to block an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation, he subsequently kept their investigators out of the crime scene for three days (on bogus “national security” grounds), he also allowed disinformation to be disseminated unchecked which served to smear a harmless electrician posthumously.

Guido is wondering why “Whitehall sources” seem prepared to let Ian Blair fall on his sword so readily, but more than that, they are seemingly clearing the altar for his sacrifice. The leaks coming from the investigation are damning and “the sources” suggest attempts were made by the commissioner to thwart a real investigation. A serious charge – its always the cover-ups that get you.

Could it be that someone in Marsham Street wants the buck for the death of an electrician to stop at New Scotland Yard down the road? When it comes to internecine warfare in Whitehall Sir John Gieve is a black-belt master, remember he was the leading character in Blunkett’s tragi-comedy demise. If the commissioner has fallen out with him, bet on the commissioner losing.

UPDATE : Guido’s conspiracy theory has unravelled, somewhat. The Times reports that a clerk at the IPCC did the leaking and has been suspended. But the Whitehall sources still seem to be briefing against the Commissioner…

Even the usually dry FT is taking the piss. But lest you wonder why, see here, here and here. Putting Lord Drayson in charge of defence procurement is astounding. Or, on second thoughts, perhaps genius. The arms industry is notoriously corrupt, even the biggest defence contractors do dodgy things, Boeing, Lockheed, BAe, Dassault – taxpayers funds, politicians, big orders for big corporations, lavish expense accounts – well with that cocktail you can guess what often happens.

Could it be a form of twisted Blairite genius – a case of turning a poacher into a gamekeeper?

Incidental old joke: Q. What’s pink and hard in the morning? A. The FT crossword.

The competition closed at midday and the entries out-numbered Malcolm Rifkind’s nominations, but there was no avalanche of gossip – which makes sense – you would not be reading a political gossip blog if you knew all the gossip. What was received was interesting, certainly defamatory and possibly in some cases untrue.

Andrew Marr is not a parliamentarian, but I am pleased to know about his predilections – however the rules mean that entry will not count. So Guido has decided that Renegade Liberal is the winner and will I hope be reviewing the play for the blog on Friday.

Chichester Festival Theatre is showing 5/11 until 8 September. Tickets can be bought online, more information here. Thanks to Sarah Wallis @ CFT for the tickets.

The drink law reforms are the subject of much hypocrisy – the Tories are moaning about drunks and opposing removing regulatory restrictions on free enterprise, Labour is de-regulating for a free market in a way that will permit more anti-social behaviour. The Lib Dem’s Charles Kennedy seems strangely absent from the debate. LibDem policy is to allow alco-pops for 16 year olds (and their European leader, Chris Davies MEP, would throw in a spliff, a few E’s and line of cocaine no doubt).

The Basher Davis camp likes to make snide hints about David Cameron’s £27,000-a-year from a chain of bars when it isn’t alluding to Ken Clarke’s proselytising for fag exports to the third world at British American Tobacco. (Though no one has yet mentioned Basher’s time as a director at Tate & Lyle, which was the recipient of £127m in EU sugar subsidies last year at the expense of tax-payers and third world sugar exporters).

Sean Gabb, the maverick libertarian propagandist, quotes Dr Magee, the Bishop of Peterborough, who in the debates over the 1872 Licensing Act said, “England free better than England sober”. Guido will drink to that!

In a frankly shocking development, Simon Goodley, a front runner for the Press Plagiarist of the Year Award, today credits PoliticalBetting.Com and the Adam Smith Institute’s blog as sources for a story. Recklessly he almost refers to Wat Tyler’s David Davis for Leader blog. When top Dead-Tree-Press Cut ‘n Pasters like Goodley start giving credit it brings a tear to the collective eye of the Blogosphere. Who knows, the geeks at Guardian Online might even show him how to insert links as well?

Still not too late to buy Guido a drink withdraw from the award Simon.

(As the excitement builds, the BBC’s Alan Connor mentions the award preparations.)

To enter, simply email Guido a piece of juicy gossip or tittle-tattle about a parliamentarian by midday Wednesday. Best piece of gossip wins the tickets. Rules, one piece of gossip per entry, Guido’s decision is final. Competition not open to Hong Kong residents.