In November Guido was digging around the Conservative Arab Network, an organisation not affiliated to the Tories, yet one that used their branding. The problem came when a lobbyist was using it on his business card. The CAN website quickly ditched the tree and Guido followed up with news that they had been struck off of Companies House, despite continuing to fundraise and hold events.

Since then they have officially applied for affiliate status with CCHQ, but a decision has not yet been made by the Party Board. CAN seem to  be launching a new website today, complete with Tory branding, despite the rules prohibiting this. Guido will be looking out to see whether Trey Barnes, the aforementioned defence lobbyist, will be featured on the new site. A little birdy tells him that he and his partner Sophie de Schwartzburg-Gunther, who was also a former CAN director, are out of the group…