Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, is shagging a member of her private staff. It is an open secret in Whitehall and he even travelled with her on her 8-day trip to India. Her lover has been on her office staff for 20 years, his name is Leo Beckett and he is her husband. So that is fine and dandy.

Michael White was accused during the Prescott and Rosie expose of being too close to Prezza, he claimed at the time that he kept his distance from politicians and wasn’t really close to any of them – “I steer clear of any intimacy with politicians, it’s not healthy.” Guido suspects that he is friendly with the Becketts, why else would he do this bit of spinning for them today and before during the airmiles furore.

When New Labour comes to an end at the next election, it will be time for “Sir” Michael to collect his honours and retire, his contacts will be out of power and a new generation will be in office and in opposition. Readers want a more aggressive attitude to politicians from journalists, “Sir” Michael’s tendency to make excuses for them is cringingly subservient.