Tories are having an absolute mare of a day. This has to be the first time anyone has sworn in resignation to the PM:

Well that should kill the Osborne story…

UPDATE: What did it for Mitchell?

Right decision by Thrasher #Mitchell, but wrong time. Wonder if rumoured threat of senior resignations in Whips Office was the final straw

— Benedict Brogan (@benedictbrogan) October 19, 2012

This was denied on Thursday, despite Guido’s witnesses.

Sunday papers were also getting very close on another aspect of Mitchell’s life…