Guido enjoyed Adam Boulton’s final Sky News programme this afternoon; an hour-long documentary on the relationship between No. 10 and the media. Surprisingly David Cameron agreed to participate, to discuss his own media strategy. In 2010 Cameron tried hiring Andrew Parsons on the public dime to be his official photographer, however media pressure eventually led to their roles being scrapped. Boris has since tried this again, more successfully, now enrolling three No. 10 photographers onto the taxpayer-funded payroll. Commenting on this Cameron joked “Boris has always been able to get away with things mere mortals can’t”…

Last week, the Mirror revealed No. 10 now hires three official photographers – Andrew Parsons, Simon Dawson and Pippa Fowles. Today the public got to see the fruit of their taxpayer-funded labours: a four-part photoshoot of Boris’s dog Dilyn frolicking in the Downing Street garden snow. According to 2015 figures, this photographer could be earning up to £38,214…

Not to be outdone, Larry the No. 10 cat also got the luxury treatment yesterday, posing under a portrait of another elderly fat-cat who likewise lives a life of luxury at the public’s expense.

As much as Guido is a sucker for a cat picture on the internet, Parsons is on the part-time equivalent of £100,000 and most recent hire Simon Dawson rakes in £60,635. It seems Downing Street’s concern for frugal use of public funds has gone to the dogs, three official photographers are not a sign of efficient Conservative government with careful stewardship of public money.

UPDATE: Asked at Lobby why Boris’s photographers are taking pet pics, Allegra Stratton said “These photographers document the work for the government as well as the work inside No. 10”. When pressed on how Dilyn playing in the snow constitutes “work inside No. 10″ Stratton doubled down: “They document, the work of not just the Prime Minister, but the whole of the cabinet.” Big promotion for Dilyn if true…