For all the day’s best photos and videos, plus the chance to be first with all of the top stories on the blog, make sure you like Guido’s Facebook page.
“A most bodacious destination, think Iain Dale’s Diary on ketamine.”
The richest council in Britain could soon have a new leader. Philippa Roe’s position as leader of Westminster council is under threat after May’s local elections, with Tory councillors increasingly unimpressed by her inability to get a grip on the job. “Philippa is perfectly nice,” one says, “but she’s not the brightest – she just does what officials tell her.” Adding to her troubles, Downing Street and CCHQ are said to be keen on a change following last year’s PR blunder of publicly accusing immigrants of “defecating on people’s doorsteps”. Worth keeping an eye on when it all hits the fan in May…
Interviews for the much-coveted Sky News political editor’s job have been held in a hospitality box at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea football club. MediaGuido understands that the candidates to have made it through to interview stage include Sky’s own Joey Jones and Jon Craig and the BBC’s James Landale and Allegra Stratton. Also among the final few under consideration are Tom Newton Dunn of the Sun, the Economist’s Anne McElvoy and Faisal Islam, economics editor of Channel 4 News. An announcement is some weeks off yet…
UPDATE: Some say Ben Brogan and Gary Gibbon also on the list. All names caveated – especially given it is said to be an 8 name shortlist.
UKIP Lift Old BNP Slogan for Spring Conference
“It’s our slogan now, not changing it. To hell with the BNP.”
Interview with @ChrisMasonBBC.
LibDems on Weymouth and Portland Borough council have formed a new grouping so they can circumvent the party leadership and keep child rape charge councillor Ryan Hope “in the tent”. They will be known as the Liberal Democrat and Alliance Group.
As Guido reported last month Hope was finally suspended by the party, four months after appearing in court charged with one count of raping a child, one count of rape, one count of sexual assault of a child and two counts of sexual assault. He denies the charges and faces trial in April.
Despite this the LibDems have now bent the rules so Hope can stay on and they don’t lose a seat on an important council committee.
What’s Clegg going to do about it?
UPDATE: A LibDem spokesman says:
“The party has been made aware of the decision by the council group in Weymouth. The regional party is now establishing the facts and will consider appropriate action.”
