Sion Simon standing down from parliament is a great loss for this blog, he has provided so much material in all our favourite categories. Who can forget the unintended political comedy of his classic New Statesman article?  The radical feminism of his “be quiet woman” interview on Sky, when we first realised that perhaps the pressure was getting all a bit too much.  The little things, his tweeted bad taste insult of SuBo’s mental health which led to him apologising “wholeheartedly for any distress or embarrassment caused..” More seriously getting caught fiddling £40,000 in expense payments to his sister to pay her mortgage in breach of the rules probably damaged his political prospects.  That, plus owing his promotion entirely to Brown rewarding his treachery against Blair, meant that even with his failing eye-sight he could see the political end was coming.

Knowing that Labour will be out of power after the election, Sion is looking for power elsewhere.  As mayor of Birmingham.  Brummies surely have more sense than that…