Portland PR’s Tim Allan is Mr Unpopular among Brownites and not just because he used to be Blair’s deputy-spokesman under Campbell. As if that wasn’t bad enough his firm advises on strategy with the Labour party vis-a-vis keeping ASDA, the Wal-Mart owned firm, union free. The GMB is incensed with Portland’s advice, the cynicism of which would make even Alan B’stard blush.

Hence the 21 separate written questions about Portland to ministers from hostile Labour MPs trying to identify contracts with government departments suitable for cancellation.

Guido is disturbed by the latest non-union ASDA staff member however [pictured]. As he wrote in his column in yesterday’s Sunday Times “I am not sure whether to take myself seriously.” Guido thinks that very few people take Portillo seriously anymore…