As for Scotland well that’s a basket case isn’t it. Tories chances of gains there are smaller that Mr Rudd’s pecker, mate and they can’t even play cricket. If I was running the place I’d sell Scotland to China as a wind farm.

still, whatever works I suppose.

PS My pension is still being paid, Ms Harman. No funnies in the budget please or I shall have to start releasing some emails of my own…….

But it should be noted that Labour’s media handling is significantly improved over the last 24 hours, which may explain HP’s confident assertion here. The uncharacteristically smooth response from Jacqui Smith today – the Hilsboro files story – is reminiscent of the sure touch of Mandelson back at work on his old turf.

Giving Jacqui the lead in the Hilsboro story (files being released ‘at her request’) is also classsic and much used strategy: a genuine headline (and it is – ask anyone in Liverpool) backed by a real story which they can’t ignore creates the time for the institution to get back on the front foot. Note that it wasn’t Brown asking for the files to be released – that would have been the clunking response a week ago and it’s significant that it’s not been played this way this time.

Someone trailed a spoiler yesterday about Labour being third in the polls; the actual figures, though bad, were therefore relatively disappointing. It’s an old trick, lowering expectations, and it’s worked in the MSM largely.

Expect more of the same more assured but equally contrived stuff in the run up to the budget & beyond.

They will, I guess, be inclined to judge that Guido’s second round of revelations fell much flatter then he might have hoped – no resignations, and no real additional pressure for them yet despite the NOTW headline.

In all, they might well feel that today’s coverage has been marginally better then they might have hoped. The ‘second wave’, which is usually a killer in political media coverage, hasn’t really had that much effect. The Ray Collins stuff isn’t gaining any real traction on the Beeb or on Sky, and they’re taking Maguire’s denial straight and using an indignant Jowell to round off the report talking about hard working ministers; it all suggests a return of nerve for the politicos.

The weakness of Labour’s strategy is that it has up to now been based on the reflexes and vulnerabilities of the msm and hasn’t taken into account the fact that Guido is not playing by any rules they would recognise. But Guido shouldn’t think that they’re not very, very quick to recognise new realities and vulnerabilities and they’re likely to be all-out to salvage pride, establish dominance over the pack and the lobby and regain control.

Guido’s obviously got more – he trailed it yesterday – and the fact that it hasn’t appeared on the blog as promised today suggests a hold up of one kind or another, unless it’s Labour he’s teasing rather than his readers…

High stakes indeed. And only Guido knows how many cards are still to be played…

Can’t wait …

No wonder we keep getting a Brown-Ball Screwing!!

Pass the crayfish platter…