Francis Maude has kicked back at the speculation he could be moved to replace Andrew Mitchell imminently. Tonight’s Standard reports:

“Senior minister Francis Maude is being tipped to replace disgraced Andrew Mitchell as Chief Whip amid growing pressure on David Cameron to fire the man who allegedly called a police officer a “pleb”. Mr Maude, who served as a junior whip under Margaret Thatcher between 1985 and 1987, is Cabinet Office Minister and Paymaster General with responsibility for making Whitehall more efficient.”

But a Cabinet Office source just told Guido:

“Francis wants to get on with the job of civil service reform and this government’s focus on efficiency and transparency. The Prime Minister made a very clear decision to keep him where he is at the reshuffle.”

It sounds like he could dig in if Cameron fires the trigger on Mitchell, as many are speculating he will tomorrow…