There is plenty of sleaze tonight after the expenses revelations. “Cab's here” Byers has finally been suspended along with Hoon and Hewitt, crippling the disaffected section of the Blairite rump. The targets of the Sunday Times investigation map the contours of Blairite dissent within the Parliamentary Labour Party. Coincidence?
They have now been suspended from the Labour party pending investigation. Yet, we see no examination of the allegations aired:
Gordon Brown refused to allow an inquiry into his comments, rejecting claims that Mr Byers had influenced government policy over the railways and food labelling. The Prime Minister accepted assurances from the permanent secretaries of three Whitehall departments that there had been no improper influence.
The government is holding the line tonight that assurances from civil servants are sufficient and that the comments from all three ex-ministers were probably some form of power trip caused by the stress of leaving office.
The BBC break their scandal on hospitality rules tonight: an odd time, given that the news will soon be expunged by the Budget: does it take some of the heat away from the government with Theresa Villiers and Liam Fox fingered for enjoying unregistered hospitality.