Not a photoshop job, genuine campaign beermat from Blears. Wonder where they were when thought up that idea?

The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee today told Dave he had been “ill-advised” to link funding to access to his office. Guido has been told that the modus operandi for the “Leaders Group” was to have proven donors over for PMQs on a Wednesday, have them watch the show and then give them lunch and a few drinks to loosen their wallets. Dave would do a bit of glad handing and not be around if and when they were directly hit up for dosh.

Cameron got a rap on the knuckles and had to grovel “unreserved apologies for inadvertently contravening the code of conduct in respect of the use of his parliamentary offices” and promise to be a good boy in future. Quite right.

Much as Guido hates to add to his troubles given his current mental state, Sleazy Levy had a very similar routine, although a little more direct. If he smelt money off you at a social or party event, he would invite you to visit him at the Lords and hit you up for dosh there. Perhaps, given the circumstances, we should skip the rap on the knuckles from the parliamentary authorities option. He has enough to worry about as it is…

Robert Philpot, director of Progress and editor of their magazine has just been appointed as the new SpAd to Peter Hain, replacing the departed cheating Phil Taylor.

All his hard work turning an admirably Blairite organisation into a Hain journal has clearly paid off. It was the articles like this from Peter Hain – which Guido would not be surprised to discover was ghosted by or had some input from Philpot himself, that got him the job

Shame he won’t be able to play any part in the boss’s campaign now he’s in a politically restricted, taxpayer-paid post…

According to the Telegraph the Tories have set up an anti-Miliband unit. Here is Guido’s favourite picture of the wonk for their files…

He sets out his manifesto here, it is a post-socialist analysis, but his prescriptions (elsewhere) are scary. The authoritarian approach to enforcing a green regime puts Guido in fear. All his talk of “social contracts” just smacks of state diktat based on anti-capitalist prejudice dressed up as environmental concern. One thing for sure is that freedom of choice will not enter into his plans.

Rumour has it that Tony Blair has arranged an interview with George Pascoe-Watson at The Sun to run the day before Local Election polling day (2nd May). This could well be the day we get firm news as to Tony’s departure date – some think he might announce it to be immediately after polling day to fit in with the assumption that the Labour leadership campaign will run for 7 weeks until the start of July. Would this help Labour in Scotland? Is Gordon any more popular than Blair? Guido still has money on Q3, but it is looking less certain that Blair has the will to to exit the stage as late as possible.

Well the live interview was definitely a mistake and against my better judgement, as was the in-the-shadows idea of the Newsnight editor, but nice to have Sir Michael White go to full-frontal-abuse.

His denial of knowing his friend Prescott was even 68 is contradicted here

Interviewing Prezza for the Guardian on the 10.05 out of King’s Cross yesterday I was startled, not for the first time, by his resillient energy. It was his 68th birthday, which makes him eight years older than me and a good deal more energetic. Why hasn’t he got any white hair, I found myself wondering? What’s his secret? Pauline’s cooking? Grecian 2000? Tracey? Croquet? A zeal for the public good?

Incidentally – want to clarify something immediately re Nick Robinson – that last line about Nick being the source, did not mean he was the source for the original much contested Guido “email” second system story. Nick has never been a source. We had a discussion re the Ruth Turner document after doing his interview. That was what the reference was to, pretty sure that came over all wrong, and genuinely apologise for any embarrassment caused to Nick. Good night.

Nick Robinson regrets speaking to Guido, well that may be, he probably won’t give Guido an interview again. Bovvered.

Guido occasionally gets calls from producers asking him to go on TV and turns them down. Newsnight have tried a few times without success. But they finally made Guido an offer he couldn’t refuse, his own production team, a free hand with the script and five minutes of prime time to do whatever he wanted. So despite never wanting to get his face on TV, Guido decided to take on our political broadcasters; Nick Robinson, Adam Boulton and Paxman. Crick’s old job is up for grabs after all…

The piece is online here. Now the editors have moved the goalposts and want a studio discussion as well. Sir Michael White will be defending the cosy lobby system, Paxman will be back to asking rather answering the questions. What do you think? Stay in the shadows or do battle with Sir Michael? Vote using the box in the middle column.