A colleague of Victoria Borwick, the current favourite to be the next Tory MP for Kensington, denies being behind an attempt to smear a rival candidate. The rumour was put about to the media yesterday – in writing – that “George Osborne’s private office” was calling up Kensington members to pressurise them to back No. 10 Special Adviser Laura Trott. N0. 11 sources deny outright that any such calls were made.

Apparently: “The call was pretty high pressure, and when I said I wanted a local candidate not some advisor I’d never heard of I was told quite clearly that “the Chancellor needs Laura in parliament.” It’s bad form, and I don’t think many members in Kensington are going to put up with it.”

It was said to have been a woman: “she said she’s from ‘the Chancellor’s office’. I felt very pressured and like I wasn’t allowed to disagree with her.”

When Guido put it to Borwick’s people, they simply said “Victoria doesn’t want to comment.”

We report, you decide.