When Guido raised this earlier Watson went on the attack, forcing the Chairman of the Committee to rein him in. One thing for was clear – Watson didn’t want to talk about it:

Dial M for Murdoch came out well before today’s report, yet page 312 explicitly states that the Committee would find that News International had misled Parliament – it was a leak from a position of privilege with commercial implications. John Whittingdale, the Committee chairman, said he did not know of any breach committed by Watson – well now he does. Not only has Watson undermined Parliament, but he did so to line his pockets. A fit person for the committee?

Damian McBride’s 4 a.m. blogpost about the formulation of budgets has got plenty of his old drinking buddies and once loyal hacks excited:

Fascinating @DPMcBride insight into making a Budget bit.ly/GKVqvp clocked by @PatJHennessy—
Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) March 22, 2012

Top #Budget 'scorecard' analysis from ex-HMT @DPMcBride bit.ly/GKVqvp—
Patrick Hennessy (@PatJHennessy) March 22, 2012

A brilliant behind the scenes piece on budgets by @DPMcBride tinyurl.com/72oc6z5—
Iain Martin (@iainmartin1) March 22, 2012

for anyone who hasn't yet read @DPMcBride on how Budgets are put together, it's worth it bit.ly/GKVqvp—
Gaby Hinsliff (@gabyhinsliff) March 22, 2012

This tinyurl.com/72oc6z5 by @DPMcBride is great. Though I do recall him assuring me on Budget Day 07 there were no losers from 10p tax.—
Robert Hutton (@RobDotHutton) March 22, 2012

Everything you need to know about how a budget it put together from @DPMcbride dpmcbride.tumblr.com/post/197173197…—
JamesLyons (@MirrorJames) March 22, 2012

Currently Damian is marking time as head of spin at the Catholic overseas aid charity CAFOD as part of his political rehabilitation programme. As interesting as the behind the scenes look is, the timing of this re-entry into the fray is highly suspicious. Given that Balls wants McBride back in his operation, Guido reckons this will be the first of many such interventions…

Returning to the fray, so far we have been treated to some Whitney and a post about booze.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery…

Is that really fair?

Hic.

Why not just send them an email of concocted smears and lies instead?

Rumour has it in Labour circles that Balls is making noises about bringing Damian McBride back into the fold. McPoison was spotted last night on the Commons Terrace and is creeping back on to the political scene, lobbying for international aid at a meeting with DfID shadow Harriet Harman last week. Damian’s girlfriend Balshan is already working for Team Balls. That doesn’t sit very well with one high-level shadow cabinet member.

The former Brown bunker-boy, turned Blairite-convert, Douglas Alexander felt the brutal sharp end of McBride’s briefings after the cancellation of Brown’s election in 2007. The blame for Brown’s dithering was thrown at his feet by Damian and Balls. He was still a relatively close insider during the Blair-plot days though, with access to the plans that ended up in the Daily Telegraph’s hands. Significant, however, was his Damascene conversion and subsequent appointment as David Miliband’s campaign manager. He would have seen every single draft of that victory speech.

Dougie has the motive and ability, does he have an alibi? The leaks were a non-fatal shot across the bow of Balls, reminding everyone of how ghastly and vicious Labour once was, as well as providing an incentive for Ed to up his game. Is it any surprise that suspicious fingers are being pointed at Wee Dougie…

UPDATE: Damian has been in touch, via text message, to dispute him being on the terrace last night. Must have been a look-a-like.

UPDATE II: Damian texts again to say he hasn’t seen Harriet for years. She was at the conference part-organised by Cafod, his new employer, but he missed her. Presumably when he fled Guido…

UPDATE III: 20 June 2011: Source now says, having seen a photo of Derek Draper, that it was Dolly not Damian. Guido apologises for the confusion.

Has their Business Liaison Officer, and chief litter-picker-upper, Damian McBride taken to the soap-box in the playground?

Damian has told people that he will do two years of penance (in a Catholic school) and then come back. Guido understands that he offered his services to the struggling Ed Balls campaign. Ed Balls told him “thanks, but no thanks”, he didn’t want him anywhere near the campaign. Labour sources say the realisation that he is too toxic even for Ed Balls has driven home to him that he is finished in politics for ever.

Should have written those memoirs when they had some value Damian…

If it was just sillyness, why did his boss the defence secretary, Bob Ainsworth, issue a formal warning to him not to brief against Dannatt?  Was he being silly?