Tory MP Howard Flight was secretly recorded discussing plans for cuts in the run up to the 2005 election. What he suggested has been completely eclipsed just five years later and fell far short of even what Labour proposed at the last election. Michael Howard, in a last-ditch bid to look like a strong leader in waning election campaign, summoned the TV cameras to his home and fired Flight live on air.

His treatment was a textbook example of when being ruthless was unnecessary. Nick Herbert, now the policing Minister took his safe seat and seemingly ended the career of the experienced right-winger. Guido is sure he will get on famously with his fellow red-bencher Lord Howard…

UPDATE: Flight comments: “It was clear before 2005 that Labour’s public spending was going to end in tears and sadly it ended in even more serious tears than even I was talking about back in 2005.” Quite.