Douglas has delivered an old-fashioned Carswellian classic in the Commons, making a sound as a pound case for cutting Short money. Guido agrees with every word of this:

“I’m delighted that the Government is cutting Short money, and few things that this administration have announced have pleased me more. Does the Minister agree that this is public money and the public will deeply resent this being spent on politicians to do more politics. Does he agree that the rules on short money need to reflect the fact that the cost of doing policy…. have come down… Does he agree that the public will resent using public money to pay for special advisers and shadow special advisers who’ve watched too much of the West Wing, to sit in Portcullis House at taxpayers’ expense”

UKIP did however u-turn on their promise not to take any Short money themselves, allowing Carswell to advertise for a £60,000 speechwriter. The party also employs, for example, turncoat ex-MP Mark Reckless out of public funds. Hopefully Douglas will lead by example and trim the dozen or so taxpayer-funded staff he employs between his constituency, parliamentary office and policy unit. And don’t mention his part-time diary secretary, one Mrs Carswell…