Guido’s got his hands on the first cabinet Christmas card out this year, straight from No. 11. Rishi’s card parodies the headlines he made the day ahead of the Budget, with his luxury sliders. This time, however, they read “Merry Xmas” rather than “Palm Angels”…

It’s not the only festive output from Rishi this season. His invite to No. 11 Christmas drinks was a parody of the budget red book itself, courtesy of HM Tinsel-tree, entitled “A stronger Christmas Party for the British Lobby”.

Thankfully the latter was devoid of feet pics…

While the Blairites may have finally taken back control of the Labour Party front bench, could the race to replace Yvette Cooper as Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee prove an opportunity for Corbynites to get their own back? Guido hears one fan-favourite, Diane Abbott, may be mulling a comeback. Given she’s already a member of the committee, and served as Corbyn’s shadow Home Secretary for almost five years, she would actually be a serious contender. While centrist Diana Johnson is the only person to have announced their candidacy, Guido reckons Diane would put up a good fight. The chair of the Committee must be drawn from Labour MPs however all MPs are entitled to a vote. Tory MPs voting for Diane would be worth it for the banter alone…

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…

First rule of politics: don’t repeat the charge…

The NHS is once again on the lookout for the country’s finest minds to tackle its biggest post-pandemic problem: it’s currently advertising for 12 diversity, inclusion and social equality roles across the country, with salaries reaching up to £108,075. An overall annual bill of £618,612…

This is on top of the 8 diversity managers who were hired on £50,000 salaries at the start of this year, and includes managerial positions with responsibilities such as:

“…Lead[ing] and support[ing] the effective delivery and implementation of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) approach through multi-functional teams [and] playing a fundamental role in the development and lived reality of a truly diverse workforce.”

The most lucrative offer will go to the incoming “Director of Equality and Inclusion” at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who’ll start early next year on a minimum wage of £93,735, and be expected to “promote and celebrate our diversity… and ensure it is embedded at the heart of everything we do.” The job description adds “We know we have not always got things right, but we are committed to making a difference“. Guido reckons job cuts would be a good place to start…