Guido has been chewing over the numbers. Given that a lowly CCHQ researcher or press officer would have been lucky to be on around £35,000, the jump to government for the lower rungs of the SpAd list has come with an extremely handsome pay-rise. Nearly 100% rise for those now touching £60-70k.

Though Coulson & Co. at the top have in some cases taken a pay cut, the coalition has brought some serious pay rises for others. Take the MPs in the Cabinet for example, they have had a 107% rise from their standard MPs salary. Backbenchers who are now Junior Ministers have had a 50% rise, even after Dave decreed that they would all have a 5% pay cut. All sharing the pain.

Cameron pre-power promised a cut down on SpAds. The New Dawn of Politics has managed to reduce the number from 78 to 68. There are still vacancies yet to be filled though. In this age of austerity some SpAds will be glancing over the list shocked that their rivals in other departments managed to negotiate more. Meanwhile the voting taxpayers will be looking at the whole get up with utter scorn.

Though they give each other a run for their money on the stump, there is one battle that David Miliband is clearly beating his little brother in. Suits…

Shedding his Moss Bros-like, high-lapelled, black, three button number he wore on the international stage a while back, David now has the assistance of a discount to die for from Ozwald Boateng to sharpen up his image. You would think someone would have taken Miliband (minor) aside for a quiet word about what to look for in a whistle though.  Guido considers himself to be a bit of a fashionista so here is some free advice for Ed.

His jacket sleeves are two inches too short, the cut is too tight and it barely does up. It hangs like a damp sack. And that’s not to mention it’s a good three inches too short.

This is a man who wants to be Prime Minister, but wouldn’t look out-of-place addressing a regional conference of photocopier salesman.

There will be some disappointment on the left as the news emerges that despite all the hype, their hate figure Andy Coulson is in fact earning less than the Prime Minister. But on £140k only just – £2000 a year less.  More than Nick Clegg though.

As Director of Government Communications Coulson is the best paid of Dave’s team but overall the Special Advisers are costing the taxpayer £1.9 million per year less than the last government. Despite this Tom Watson was trying to start the attacks just now in the House, moaning that Parliament hadn’t been told first. This is despite the list being published as a written ministerial statement:

Note Steve Hilton’s rather large pay gap with his rival.

The jubilation of making it on to the ticket will pass for Diane Abbott. Not only will she be some £1,000 a week less well off for the duration of the 16 week campaign, but her seat on the This Week sofa might not be saved for her in September.  Things haven’t exactly been swell between her and Brillo since she appeared on the Daily Politics soon after declaring.

Neil quipped she was bringing diversity to the race as the only candidate to send her children to private school. Guido hears this did not go down well and there was quite the “diva moment” off air. As the summer progresses and the sure realisation dawns that she was David Miliband’s mere pawn to split the left and she isn’t going to win, might she slightly regret her unexpected decision to run?

Within twelve hours of being elected deputy leader of the LibDems, Simon Hughes is straight out of the trouble-making blocks. Working Millbank this morning, there is no denying he is relishing being the opposition in government. “Being in coalition doesn’t mean you cease to be a Liberal Democrat.” “My job is to make sure the voters see and hear the Liberal Democrats putting forward the Liberal Democrat case.” His heart is set on creating opposition spokesmen to be his trouble making minions.

It looks like tuition fees, which Willets is less than subtly hinting are rising, will be the first coaliton dividing battle. Funny how obvious the correlation is between being disgruntled and being a failed former leadership contender. Ming, Kennedy and Hughes could whip up quite a yellow rage about this one, and many more to come…

Danny Finkelstein writes…

“I have often called myself a Walt Disney conservative.”

Staying calm, doing deep breathing exercises, Yvette has smeared a dollop of surgical glue on to the back of both eyelids. Alex has come up with some dividing lines to take distancing me from Gordon which I have been practising with Nicola. Think it was best to lose the “I know what it is like to dodge a Nokia” line.

What can go wrong? Ten minute interview with Andrew Neil today at noon on the Daily Politics. This time I will not blink. I will not stammer. I will prevail. I will be leader.

*As leaked to Guido