The recall of Rupert Murdoch to the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee was a hijacking by Labour’s Ben Bradshaw. Though resisted by the Tories on the committee like Angie Bray, Conor Burns and Phillip Davies as well as a sceptical Paul Farrelly on the Labour side, the fact that Tracey Crouch was absent and John Whittingdale was unable to vote as chairman meant that the plan worked perfectly. The LibDem on the committee John Leech voted with his Labour chums.

Given that toady Bradshaw had refused to come back during the summer in order to interview Lord Leveson, Guido understands the same argument was made back to him and therefore Murdoch will not face the committee until the autumn. Just in time for the party conferences…