A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “The issue was raised at high level discussions, and the posters aren’t on the website any more.” Fraser Kemp is complaining that everything was okay and that nobody had complained about the posters two weeks ago “there has only been a fuss in the last four days”. No apology or explanation as to what inspired the posters; “Concern has been expressed and clearly we have to take those views on board”.

So another good reason to nominate Guido for the Guardian’s political blog of the year – because of stories I delved into ahead of the mainstream media, like Blunkett, Otis’ raid on the Commons and Kosher-Poster. As well as the usual tittle-tattle and mockery.

UPDATE: Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, who is herself Jewish and vice-chair of the Labour Friends of Israel, said the Howard as Shylock poster was unacceptable. She told Channel 4 News: “I thought the other poster very insensitive and I am glad that Labour Party members have had the good sense to vote down the poster that the advertising gurus thought was so clever. It was not.”