Chatted with bloggers last night at the Adam Smith Institute’s Dead Trees and Pyjama Kids bash. Gave some advice to newbie blogger Trevor, explained to him that proper bloggers have comments and links. “Links?” he asked quizically. Guido thinks Trevor could probably make a success of it, forinstance he seemed pretty well informed about Prescott’s mistresses. Did tell him that now he is blogging, my plan was to set up a mass market tabloid with tits. It is only fair.

Afterwards Tim Worstall bought a round for everyone, Guido ungratefully said “that will give you enough material for a new book” and got bitch-slapped down by the man single-handedly leading the seventies fashion revival. All in all, the creme de la creme of the British blogging world were there to hear the Fink outline his fears for the Dead Tree Slaughterers. Mike Smithson of politicalbetting.com swapped tips with Tim Montgomerie of ConservativeHome.com whilst Perry de Havilland of Samizdata and Brian Micklethwait talked of podcasts and armed insurrection. Zack Exley’s nightmares were gathered in that room.

Nick Robinson blogs that Prescott’s mistress was “a bombshell“ to his family and colleagues. Bullshit Nick. It was hardly a bombshell to the lobby or his colleagues. Trevor Kavanagh admits he knew of Prezza’s serial adultery, half the less connected Westminster village from the lowliest research assistant and up knew.

If the political editor of the BBC finds this a bombshell, he is either being disingenuous or is in the wrong job.

Named Day Written question to: Prime Minister for answer on 02/05/2006:

To ask the Prime Minister how many members of his private office have been interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crimes Directorate in connection with investigations relating to the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 and will he make a statement?

The quietly industrious Stewart Jackson MP is asking interesting questions, Growling Chris Grayling and Nigel Evans also keep at it. The PM just says “no running commentary”. What he means is “no one is on the run”, yet.

Go here to watch.

UPDATE : Look out Labour, The Chameleon Army is online and on the march.

Guido said some time ago that it is axiomatic that Murdoch only likes to back winners. Sun reader Tim Ireland has noticed the tit-tonic plates of page 3 political commentary are slowly moving. Page 3 is, believe it or not, a key place where the Murdoch message is transmitted and the message clearly is not good for Blair, or Blairites like Charles Clarke.

Gordon is still getting the personality cult treatment - for now. Cameron is not liked by Irwin Stelzer (Murdoch’s emmissary), but the drip-drip of news slanting is neutral for Dave. Andrew Neil reckons that this is the crunch year for The Sun, either it backs Dave this year or sticks with Gordon. We shall see…

He was on the moral high ground once. Perhaps Pauline will quote it to him.

As the NHS stumbles from one funding disaster to another sacking thousands of nurses, a rather ill-timed press release arrives in Guido’s email from Rosie Winterton MP (Minister of State for Health Services) and Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Health. This week sees the 60th Birthday for the NHS and they have baked a cake. Hope it tastes better than the usual hospital food.

The Humberside Humper has been exposed for having a two-year affair with a secretary, Tracey Temple. Guido knows that where there is one blousy mistress, there is often another…

Inquiring minds should be looking for a local grammar school girl (this would be prior to him becoming DPM). The girl has since done very well for herself.

More revelations to follow…

Guido interviewed John Hemming and came away impressed with the sharper than average MP. So it comes as no surprise that he has spotted a way to save the NHS £500 million and balance the books at a stroke.

The LibDem MP has noticed that when drugs go off patent the generic alternatives become available for a fraction of the old rip-off price. Looking at only three drugs, he has identified savings of £500m, but there are plenty more Big Pharma rip-offs. If the NHS is looking to save money, sourcing drugs more cheaply is a good place to start.

Coincidentally, Pfizer, the most rapacious profitable pharmaceutical corporation in the world, recently gave £40,000 to Progress, the ultra-Blairite faction organising operation. That should help keep this eminently sensible policy off Blair’s reform agenda.