Angela Rayner just can’t seem to catch a break this week: no sooner is her team totally “blindsided” by another Labour reshuffle she wasn’t consulted on, and snubbed by Sir Keir’s lobby Christmas drinks, Guido hears her chief spinner has chosen this moment to go on leave. Jack McKenna’s apparently taking a few days off to rest after a tumultuous few months, from scum-gate, to threats made against Rayner, and the past month of worsening tensions with the LOTO. Speculation that this is an enforced time-out has been officially denied…

While Guido initially heard more explosive rumours about Jack’s position, rumours he’d been suspended were emphatically denied. McKenna is undoubtedly entitled to a holiday, although Guido does spot his Twitter account was also made private today…