In 2006 the Guardian ran the following apology:

On September 25 – 28 2006 Guardian Unlimited published four articles entitled “Chris Bryant’s Manchester Diary”. They were spoof diaries and were meant to be lighthearted and humorous. We had believed that the content and line at the end of the articles, “Chris Bryant was speaking to Ros Taylor”, were sufficient indicators. However, Chris Bryant has informed us that some people took them seriously, which we regret. Mr Bryant himself had no involvement at all in writing the diaries and we accept that the content of the diaries was not an accurate reflection of his views. We apologise to Mr Bryant.

You would have though some the Indy would not repeat the same mistake, yet today’s spoof Chris Bryant diary makes for comic reading:

8.05am Stuck in the box/radio studio just off the hallway at 4 Millbank doing Today with Evan Davies (with whom I was at university). He’s quite rufty tufty… 

9.30am Arrive at the Local Government Association, text in hand, to deliver what I hope is a cogent, reflective argument about how we can make immigration work better for everyone.

It all seems to go fine. 

11.15am Back in my office. My inbox is inundated with emails from people agreeing with me…

“Rufty tufty” has to be the best euphemism Guido has heard in a while.