Something is just a little bit too convenient about this photo of Beaker the Leaker:

Guido does find it rather amusing that in order to avoid being accused of “announcing to the press before announcing to the House” the government seems to have just accidentally happened to get photographed reading the chosen headline figure.

Dave got caught flashing photographers a document as well. Instead of briefing the press the new method seems to be to simply flash briefings to photographers so hacks know what to write about thus softening the blow. Despite the half a million jobs figure being the official forecast for months, every single newspaper splashed it this morning…

Could this be a plausibly deniable job well done? Though questions still remain about why the Telegraph had the entire Defence Review before it was announced yesterday…