Gobby livens up the Brooks’ press conference:

“Have you had any messages of support from the Prime Minister?”

Liam Byrne has survived the chop in one of Ed’s more sensible decisions. He’s lost his policy role though, with that going to former Blair Political Secretary and David Miliband running mate Jon Cruddas:

• Jon Cruddas is to become Coordinator of the Labour Party Policy Review.
• Ed Miliband will recommend to the National Policy Forum that Angela Eagle becomes its new chair.
• Owen Smith is to replace Peter Hain as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.
• Andrew Adonis will advise the Policy Review on areas of Labour’s industrial strategy.

Guido is still trying to work out who Owen Smith is…

Brady, Walker, Wittingdale and Binley have been returned unopposed, but plenty still to play for:

“The nominations for vacancies among the officers and executive of the 1922 Committee and the Conservative members of the Backbench Business Committee are attached. Voting will take place in Committee Room 14 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday 16^th May.  There will be a brief meeting of the Committee at 6 p.m.”

Anyone running a book?

UPDATE: Scribd seems to be falling over. You can also find the document here.

Private Eye                                  Guido Fawkes

Sir, I wonder if any of your readers have noticed the striking resemblance between this week’s front cover and our own site four day ago. Could they by any chance be related?

Guido missed his Uttoxeter Labour News this week, but luckily and eagle-eyed co-conspirator spotted the flagrant attempt to treat members of the electorate:

It brings a new meaning to “wouldn’t go if you paid me…”

Gove is used to having his marriage plastered across the pages of the Times and Twitter thanks to his columnist wife, but not his views on gay marriage. The Education Secretary seems to have let the cat out of the bag that Catholic schools will be allowed to oppose gay marriage before an investigation has been completed. Damian Thompson of the Telegraph tweeted, but quickly deleted: “supper w Fr J Large & M Gove last night. Common ground. Gove promised Catholic schls cn oppose gay marriage. Top secret!” A Twitter direct message blunder, but Pink News were watching. Gove is on the side of the angels here, but it’s going to be a bit bumpy…

Shake the branch and all sorts of news falls out  of the tree. Guido understands that Steve Field is stepping down as the PM’s spokesman. Guido understands that he is off out of the Civil Service rather than being rotated.  Developing… 

UPDATE: Number 10 are apparently denying it to PoliticsHome on the basis he’s doing the Lobby briefing today. Guido never said he was leaving today.

Field might want to check what his Whitehall colleagues are briefing…

Guido hears that popular Tory Head of Press Henry Macrory is standing down at the end of next week. Starting out in No.10 after the election, he has been beefing up the CCHQ press team for the last year after a mass exodus to government and the private sector. CCHQ have confirmed he is off, but other sources suggest that a recruitment process has not yet begun…

UPDATE: Seems recruitment has begun and at least one candidate has turned it down…

Along with her husband.

They claim to “deplore this weak decision and unjust decision.”

Neigh sayers….

I know it makes me seem a bit geeky but here’s the first time I came across Peter Hain. From my school diary age 9 twitpic.com/9l2umb—
Jim Murphy (@jimmurphymp) May 14, 2012

Terrible day. The horse was innocent.