Word reaches Guido that Gordon Brown is taking some time out of the final editing stage of his book and is in town today for Osborne’s speech. There is no way that the Speaker wouldn’t call upon him if he was to rise. If he does turn up he will be a lightning rod for the government benches to point the finger of blame at for the cuts that are coming. What will he have to say for himself?

Guido doesn’t quite understand the logic of him being there, but then that was always the way with Gordon…