The policy has been actively pursued by David Cameron and the Conservatives, against strong scepticism from many Liberal Democrats, yet it seems the Tories may play only an indirect role in the process.

The reshuffle, which would only involve Liberal Democrats, has been designed to cause the minimum of disruption.

That much is established. What has received very little attention so far is William Hague's links with Andy Coulson, which date back to 2003.

From the Oxford Mail, 14 February 1953:

David Cameron was writing to the BBC Director General in an attempt to save the BBC Oxford News TV service. He was writing, of course, purely in his capacity as MP for Witney in Oxfordshire.

This, despite the fact that Ed Miliband was only elected leader on the votes of affiliated union members.

Allason, who was 98, was the father of Rupert Allason (aka the spy writer Nigel West), also a former Tory MP. He was member for Hemel Hempstead from 1959 to 1974.

The cover of one of Mr Osborne's editions was adorned by two large cannabis leaves.

Prof Field stressed that they'd only had eight weeks to reach their conclusions. Several areas, he said, needed a lot more work. And twice he told us that he's only realised important points within the "last couple of days". So what if he'd had a couple more days, or weeks?

As a former Conservative Chief Whip, and now Chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, Mr Arbuthnot is pretty much guaranteed a place in the Lords - assuming the Lords is not reformed by 2015 (and I know nobody in politics who really thinks it will be).

One of her fellow participants has now confirmed this to Newsnight.

Essex police this week interviewed both the energy secretary and Vicky Pryce over allegations that Huhne got his wife to take the points for a speeding offence on the M11 in March 2003.

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