Seasoned parliamentary staffers will know that IT on the estate is grinding to a halt, with most bag carriers having to work on five year old computers.

Techno hears that researchers are spending several hours on the phone to the Parliamentary Digital Service – the team responsible for all IT support in Parliament – each week because their computers, bought for £1,200 in 2010, are no longer fit for purpose. Apparently it takes 20 minutes to get through because so many staffers are calling up to complain.

So they will be delighted to learn that the PDS is hiring a new comms chief… on £61,255.

Almost as if they are expecting a deluge of bad news to deal with…