Back during Nigel Farage’s 2010 election battle against Bercow, Guido discussed the significance of chihuahuas in British politics. ChIHUAHuas are Conservatives In their Heads, Ukip At Heart. Three years later and they are back: Sir John Major has taken to quoting Guido word for word:

“Members with Conservative heads and UKIP hearts cannot be placated. Whatever is offered to them will be insufficient. They will demand more. They will only be satisfied by withdrawal. 

Down in Eastleigh the Tory’s eurosceptic candidate Maria Hutchings is doing her utmost to weaken the UKIP support; with love rather than the foolish dismissal favoured by Warsi, Dave, et al:

“Many of those people have views that are patriotic, which are [not dissimilar from her own]. And not that dissimilar from many people in our party, either! But no, I’ve never been tempted to move because the over-riding factor at the moment is to get this country back on its feet”.

That core Conservative vote who are UKIP in their hearts could be the difference in Eastleigh, and at the next election. When it comes to Tory chihuahuas, their bark is nothing compared to their bite. Guido will be keeping a close eye on the effect of Hutchings’ tone.