Patricia Scotland is not out of the woods yet – despite receiving the Prime Minister’s backing.  Guido has checked with the Bar Council and it is true that she will not have to report herself on the grounds that it is a civil offense to “unknowingly” employ an illegal immigrant.   She is making a lot of play of the claim that it is an administrative error and a “technical breach of the rules”, as if she had been caught by the offside trap.  It isn’t a game, it is a breach of the law by the highest law officer in the land, a breach of a law she introduced.

The Cabinet Office is trying to defend the Baroness over her expense claims.  Ridiculously they are now claiming that all ministers are entitled to claim the London allowance regardless of where they live.  Effectively giving all peers who are ministers an immediate pay rise…