The increasingly doddery Yasmin Alibhai-Brown has been wheeled out by the Indy again today and her column is a corker. In it, the ever perspicacious Alibhai-Brown defends Jeremy Corbyn against accusations that he is anti-Semitic, declaring that some of his closest friends are “conscientious and ethical British Jews“.

“Some of the people Corbyn has been closest to are conscientious and ethical British Jews. The late Mike Marqusee, a Marxist, New York secular Jew who migrated to the UK, was his friend. So, too, is Ken Loach, a liberal British Jew and fierce defender of Palestinian rights.”

Mike Marqusee is, as Alibhai-Brown astutely points out, actually dead. Perhaps he and Corbyn carry on their friendship via seances. And Ken Loach, as far as we know, is not Jewish…

Andy Grice is stepping down after 17 years at the helm as Indy political editor. As ever, MediaGuido brings you your runners and riders to replace him:

Oliver Wright
Indy Whitehall Editor

Wright has been at the paper for seven years since coming over from the Times, first as news editor and then bringing in stories as Whitehall editor. The clear favourite for the job.

Nigel Morris
Indy Deputy Political Editor

Veteran correspondent Morris has been at the Indy even longer and is said to be keen. Would be a safe pair of hands, if a little unexciting.

Jane Merrick
Sindy Political Editor

Already writes a regular column for the daily so not impossible that she might jump over from the Sunday edition. Good for hard-hitting scoops about Michael Gove. Would be a crying shame if her widely-enjoyed allotment blog suffered.

Craig Woodhouse
Sun on Sunday Political Correspondent

Has spent three years as the number two on the Sun on Sunday and has previously worked at a Lebedev stable over at the Evening Standard. Experience in tabloid discipline would also be useful for the i sister paper, which has significantly higher circulation.

Matt Chorley
MailOnline Political Editor

A former Sindy man, bosses won’t have forgotten classic Chorley scoops during his stint at the paper such as “Welcome to Britain’s sex toy capital“. Could be a goer if he is overlooked for the Daily Mail pol ed job.

Joe Murphy
Evening Standard Political Editor

Already on a Lebedev paper, Murphy has one last big job in him and a move to the Indy would make sense. Known for such top scoops at the 2013 Budget.

Simon Carr
Guido Fawkes Sketchwriter

Sketch master Carr was at the Indy before moving to this parish. There would need to be a serious negotiation about allowing him to file from his Portugal holiday home. Would also mean writing for a smaller readership.

So, who will it be?

Sean O’Grady, managing editor of the Independent, emails staff:

“After 17 glorious scoop-filled years, our friend and colleague Andy Grice is to step down as Political Editor of The Independent later in the summer. We all know what an amazing job he has done and the debt we owe to him. Happily, Andy will continue to contribute to our titles. Applications are therefore invited to fill some exceptionally big shoes.”

This British Election Study survey shows Indy readers are a mixed bunch and as many back the coalition parties as Labour. So that endorsement will please and anger readers in equal measure. No surprises in the data. 

Well this is a turn up for the books. The Independent has endorsed a second Tory-LibDem coalition:

“A hung parliament is certain this week. For all his talk of no deals with the SNP, Miliband is bound to rely on that party to get his legislative programme through. This would be a disaster for the country, unleashing justified fury in England at the decisive influence of MPs who – unlike this title – do not wish the Union to exist. If that were to be the case while Labour were the second biggest party either in terms of vote share, or seats – or both – how could Labour govern with authority? They could not. Any partnership between Labour and the SNP will harm Britain’s fragile democracy. For all its faults, another Lib-Con Coalition would both prolong recovery and give our kingdom a better chance of continued existence.

This title casts no vote. But we prize strong, effective government, consider nationalism guilty until proven innocent, and say that if the present Coalition is to get another chance, we hope it is much less conservative, and much more liberal.”

It’s damning on Miliband:

“in key areas his policy prescriptions suggest a party unready for government. Tampering with tuition fees would harm universities while benefiting wealthy rather than poor students. Taxing property more is smart, but rent controls won’t work and a mansion tax is a centralising, blunt tool: much better to reform council tax instead. And though he is right not to flirt with leaving the EU, far too many businesses of all sizes fear Labour”

What could non-dom Indy owner Evgeny Lebedev have against Labour…

“Beer drinkers join the fight against fracking” declared the Independent on Sunday as it waxed lyrical about a progressive motion being debated Campaign for Real Ale to oppose fracking. Apparently cheap, home grown, low-carbon fuel is a “real and substantial threat to the production and quality of real ale.”

Odd then, that the very same day CAMRA roundly rejected the motion.

Motion 20 has been defeated regarding the adoption of a campaign against fracking. @camrachairman closes the AGM and thanks those involved

— CAMRA AGM (@CAMRA_AGM) April 19, 2015

Gaia is still waiting for the Indy’s update…