Nigel Farage rubs it in:

“Thanks again for those TV debates, Nick and do keep your chin up in tough times, I would hate to see you go”

According to an Ipsos Mori poll the Guido Fawkes Blog is the publication most read by MPs either online or in print. In case you were wondering it wasn’t commissioned by our advertising representatives MessageSpace. According to the research no other blog, political news website or newspaper is read by more MPs than Guido. We’re immensely proud, though not too surprised.

We don’t tend to do many interviews, waffling wordy comment pieces or publish rehashed press releases.  We get political stories quicker than most of our rivals, we’re more fun and we combine hard news with tittle-tattle, high brow and low brow into a hopefully compelling product. It is a formula that has seen us consistently top reader satisfaction surveys for a decade. From the Prime Minister down to A-Level politics students, we know that staying in touch with what our readers want is why we’re #1. You’re either in front of Guido, or you’re behind…

As support for Martin Callanan for EU Commissioner grows, enemies of Andrew Lansley are out to stop the Leader of the House beating him to the job. Some argue Lansley is Dave’s preferred candidate and the favourite, though it is noticeable that he is struggling to win the support of the party. One euro-Tory tells Guido:

“Callanan or Lilley for Commissioner. We don’t need a managerial, consensual Europhile like Lidington, Mitchell or Lansley.  This is a key test for how serious the PM is about reform.  A leftist would be unacceptable to the backbenches.”

Isabel Hardman also raises questions about Lansley’s lack of popularity among colleagues from all quarters:

“So why aren’t Tories pleased that their long-serving colleague might be off to Brussels at the end of his career? For once, Eurosceptics and Europhiles are united in their lack of enthusiasm for a candidate, and indeed the entire reported shortlist. One pro-EU MP thinks the proposal “suggests Dave doesn’t have a plan or a vision, except to make life easy”. “What are his qualifications?” moans one Eurosceptic backbencher. “What’s his vision of the European Union? Where is his battle-readiness to fight our corner?” Mr Lansley’s vision for Europe is indeed rather mysterious, which does not bode well.”

Foreign Office minister David Lidington definitely isn’t part of the stop Lansley operation:

Eyebrows have been raised that ConservativeHome seem to be continuing their ancient vendetta against Lanners, accusing him of being unqualified for the post and arguing that it should go to someone who isn’t just one of Dave’s mates. The Mail has been briefed that Callanan is not in the running:

@PaulGoodmanCH @jameskirkup @annietrev am told #Callanan4EMComm is 'not a runner', alas. Not sure why

— James Chapman (@jameschappers) May 27, 2014

Will the PM break the habit of the lifetime and actually listen to his party?

The Speccie have been up to Newark to interview the Tory and UKIP candidates ahead of next week’s by-election. Roger Helmer has admitted that even he doesn’t think he’s the best man for the job:

“Nigel has that enormous box office presence, and I’m sure he would do a better job than I would do. Obviously Nigel is the biggest face and the biggest asset for the party.”

Read all about it here. While dull Tory Robert Jenrick, touted as the “entrepreneur” candidate, confesses to never having run a business, and denies being a carpetbagger. Despite having stood in Newcastle-Under-Lyme in 2010 and attempting to get selected in Croydon before landing Newark…

This week we have another two tickets to the Freedom Association’s Magna Carta Day pimms and politics boat trip on June 15. It’s a great event with loads of booze and always attracts a strong line up of guests, so the winner is in for a good day out. Details here. Make them witty…

The fearless truth seekers at InfoWars have captured the moment Ed Balls turned up at the Bilderberg conference in Copenhagen, only to be turned away by police at the gates who didn’t recognise who he was. The Shadow Chancellor apparently couldn’t find his invite. Despite his protestations that “that’s my name, I’m on the list to attend,” the guards wouldn’t let him in.

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Your name’s not down, you’re not coming in.