City Hall have confirmed that Sam Lyons has taken over from Guto Harri as interim chief-of-spin for Boris. Speculation that Guto Harri was off to spin for News International looks set to be proven correct at any moment.  Unofficial News International sources say he has signed and is starting on Monday. Guido spoke to NI officially, who did not handle it too brilliantly:

GF: Can you confirm that Guto is joining you on Monday?
NI: I can’t really say anything about that. But can I put you on the list for it?
GF: What list? So there is an announcement coming?
NI: Errr, I don’t really know to be honest.

You snooze you lose Dave…

Dave’s nanny-statism reaches another high today with his plans to turn the government into an actual nanny:

“…we’re also focussed on making life easier for parents day-to-day, from extending childcare to increasing the number of health visitors. The parenting classes and films we’re launching this week are an important part of that, providing clear, professionally-led advice on everything from teething to tantrums.”

Presumably we can add Dave’s 2008 promise to end “the era of big, bossy, state interference, top-down lever pulling” to the list of u-turns?

Clearly not content with the royalties from his best selling book about the exploitation of the working classes, higher rate taxpayer Owen Jones wants more:

MP-in-waiting @OwenJones84 in the Independent canteen trying to extract more money out of Indy managing editor Sean O'Grady for his column.—
Eye Spy MP (@eyespymp) May 17, 2012

Don’t tell Laurie!

Former FCO Perm Sec Lord Jay, Lords foreign pol debate: it was a mistake for Cameron to refuse to meet Hollande in run-up to French election—
Stewart Wood (@StewartWood) May 17, 2012

Guido is still perplexed to why Labour have got it into their heads that this Cameron not meeting Hollande line is so effective. Sarkozy was the head of state and Hollande was visiting the UK as a mere candidate out field of many others.

Dripping wet Hollande is not politically aligned to Cameron either. Should the PM have met Marine Le Pen, Stewart?

Ian “it undermined what it means to be British” Austin has, thus far, declined to comment…

When a drunk Tory MP attended a party with someone dressed as a Nazi, Brownite boot-boy Ian Austin went off on one:

“For me, what Britain did in the Second World War – defeating the Nazis, standing up to fascism alone when the rest of Europe was overrun – for me, that’s our finest hour. It shows why we can claim a particular attachment to values like democracy and freedom and fairness. It’s what makes us the country that we are. So, far from simply disgracing himself, I think he has actually undermined what it means to be British. That’s why I think that we should all be taking this much more seriously.”

So presumably his reaction to the news that Labour have managed to select a woman who was an actual Nazi in Milton Keynes is going to be cataclysmic? 

Laughs all round…

Oops! Labour Treasury Whip Lyn Brown sees sparse Labour benches & accidentally texts me "please please come to Chamber, Ed Balls opening"—
Greg Hands (@GregHands) May 17, 2012

After Guido revealed this week that Patrick Mercer, the Chairman of the All Party Group for Security, has been taking fees for introducing clients to security consultant who pays him a monthly fee, Labour MP Thomas Docherty has reported the Tory backbencher to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. Docherty says: “There are serious questions to answer. This appears to be another example of a cosy arrangement between shady businessmen and a senior Conservative.” Quite…

Guido has got hold of the letter:

Dear Mr Lyon,

You may be aware of media reports concerning the Chairman of the All Party Group on Specialist Security and Member for Newark Patrick Mercer.

http://order-order.com/2012/05/14/the-bodyguard-the-tory-mp-and-the-mystery-cash/

http://order-order.com/2012/05/14/mercer-security-cash-is-for-client-introductions-claims-grey-area-is-moot-point/

Mr Mercer sponsored a parliamentary pass for a security consultant named Kevin Horak until November 2011, when Mr Horak became the passholder for the Security APG. He still has this pass.

Whilst a passholder Mr Horack’s company Clearwater Security has paid Mr Mercer £9,500 in consultancy fees.

Mr Mercer in his own words told a journalist that these fees were introductions of potential clients to Clearwater.

When questioned on a potential conflict of interest Mr Mercer responded that this was “a moot point”, but was seemingly unable or unwilling to provide evidence to the contrary.

Though Mr Mercer claims that these introductions are done “exclusively of Parliament” it is my belief that there is scope for investigation to determine that this is indeed the case.

There is prima facie evidence that Mr Mercer’s private business interests are being benefited by his role as the Chairman of the group and given the access granted to Mr Horak, it would appear the parliamentary estate is also potentially open to abuse.

It certainly does not pass the “sniff test”…