A Guido co-conspirator emails to say that Gavin Barwell, Tory director of campaigning, is off to work for Lord Ashcroft after the May elections, doling out dosh to favoured candidates.

If true it leaves the Tories with a professional campaign manager known to be on the way out in the middle of the local government campaign.

Almost as bad as Labour, where the local government campaign leader is more worried about Berlusconi’s electoral prospects and the effect it will have on her husband’s liberty.