Overt Opera fan Nick Brown, the government Chief Whip, was well placed last night at the Royal Opera House in the front row of the stalls circle before 5 pm (yes thats when it started) for the new production of Tristan und Isolde. He was in a party with lobbyist Peter Bingle of  spin merchants Bell Pottinger.  Perhaps Gordon should have cause to worry that his Chief Henchman was watching a tale of the betrayal of King Marke by Tristan and Isolde in the company of a Conservative enemy.

George Osborne and his wife were sitting in the stalls on their own, presumably having paid for their own tickets.  At four hours and fifty five minutes Guido would have paid not to attend…