Back in October, Guido broke the news that the Conservative MEP Roger Helmer had handed a letter of resignation to CCHQ. This blog was also first with the fact that CCHQ were doing their utmost to stop Rupert Matthews, the next candidate on the East Midlands party list and Helmer’s preferred successor, from being anointed. Well once again Guido is first with the news: Roger Helmer won’t be resigning after all.

Helmer’s resignation was supposed to be effective of today, but as party chairman Sayeeda Warsi is apparently insisting on someone other than Matthews, apparently “a less-geeky woman”, takes over, Helmer has decided to dig his boots in. A European co-conspiritor told Guido last night “Roger won’t be going anywhere unless Rupert is guaranteed.” CCHQ sources insist that they won’t be budging on this one, so it looks like Helmer will be staying. Once again, the Tory high-command’s gender-agenda has created an almighty mess…

This week traffic has halved with everyone off work (including us). A mere 69,532 visitors made 157,783 visits to view 256,668 pages. The top stories in order of popularity were:

• Labour Membership Flatlining Under Miliband
• Happy Christmas
• UN Flies Flag at Half Mast for Dear Leader
• Second Policy Salvo Against Miliband
  Mandelson Backed Think-Tank Launches Another Broadside
• Media Analysis You Won’t Read in the Guardian
• 2011: The Year of the ‘Pilgrim’
• A Story You Won’t Get from the BBC, Guardian or The Times
  The Secret of Three of Westminster’s Media Gate-keepers

You’re either in front of Guido, or you are behind…