Last night the story broke that a senior Tory close to Cameron said of the EU Referendum and gay marriage backbench rebellions “It’s fine. There’s really no problem. The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad, swivel-eyed loons.” It was reported by The Times and The Telegraph on their front pages in similar terms and also by the Mirror and Mail.

Sam Coates, James Kirkup, James Lyons and Tim Shipman are experienced journalists and will have known the likely repercussions of reporting an off the record / Lobby terms comment even without attribution. They set speculation running by describing the source of the comments as having “strong social connections” to the PM and as a “senior party” figure. For the record Guido has not spoken to any of the journalists concerned.

This morning Guido emailed Lord Feldman

Have emailed Lord Feldman, imagine he'll want to condemn this insult to his hard working party members ASAP.—
Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) May 18, 2013

Feldman has publicly denied being the source of the quote

“There is speculation on the internet and on Twitter that the senior Conservative Party figure claimed to have made derogatory comments by the Times and the Telegraph is me.

“This is completely untrue. I would like to make it quite clear that I did not nor have ever described our associations in this way or in any similar manner. Nor do these alleged comments represent my view of our activists. On the contrary in the last eight years of working for the party, I have found them to be hard working, committed and reasonable people. They are without question the backbone of the party. I am very disappointed by the behaviour of the journalists involved, who have allowed rumour and innuendo to take hold by not putting these allegations to me before publication. I am taking legal advice.”

Not sure why Lord Feldman thinks the journalists concerned should have put the allegations to him when they didn’t name him and in any event he says he didn’t say the words concerned.

The journalists concerned are abiding by the conventions of the Lobby and not confirming the source whilst standing by the story. Downing Street ”supports Lord Feldman’s position” and denies that anyone in Downing Street was the source of the quote. Which of course is an allegation no one has made.

Guido has not received any legal notices…

Tom Harris bemoans the public’s attitude to politicians…

“Mr Oborne echoes the lazy, anti-politics whine we hear so often these days, all based on the absurd notion that politicians were once loved and only fell out of public favour during the expenses scandal. He should take a walk to the Strangers’ Bar. But not to sup with the patrons he seems to despise so much, dearie me, no; he should instead look at the paintings on the corridor outside the bar, which depict the devastating fire which consumed most of the Palace in 1834. And he should reflect on the fact that on that dramatic night, as the Commons went up in flames, a crowd gathered on the South Bank to clap and cheer.”

From: Guy Fawkes <guido.fawkes@order-order.com>
Date: Sat, May 18, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Subject: Swivel Eyed Loons
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@conservatives.com

Dear Andrew,

Could you be so kind as to give me an on 
the record quote condemning those who 
describe your party members as 
"swivel eyed loons"?

Thanks in advance.
Editor Guido Fawkes' Blog
Guido.Fawkes@Order-Order.com

Still no response…

All credit to Krishnan Guru-Murthy for asking the questions that Guido has been trying to get answered by Margaret Hodge for some time. Persisting even when Hodge threw up a smoke screen about the Telegraph apologising when it screwed up reporting the issues. You be the judge as to how credible you find Margaret Hodge’s answers…

Any tax lawyers who wish to anonymously comment, please do so in the comments or email Guido.Fawkes@order-order.com.

Nadine on her feet again going on about…immigration #demented—
Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) May 13, 2013

Mental Health charities will have to send Diane for re-education…

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Andy Burnham Shroud-Waving again…

“This Government are taking away people’s security and piece of mind and causing worry and anxiety. And I’ve heard anecdotally that the suicide rate is increasing.”

Our colleagues over at The Sun put 18-year-old politics student Bradley Monk, standing for UKIP to get on the Hampshire County Council seat Winchester Eastgate tomorrow, on page 2 after he put pictures of himself wearing a creepy Jimmy Savile mask on his Facebook page. Further examination of his Facebook reveals him dressed in a bikini having a drunken snog with Eric Cunha, another UKIP activist. Guido thinks we can safely say this is one UKIP candidate who is neither racist or homophobic…