Bad dreams for Ben

Outgoing Labour Shadow Secretary on Culture, etc, Ben Bradshaw avoided the commiserations of friends last night, by attending the first night of Nicholas Hytner's Hamlet at The National Theatre. A ticket that might be harder to come by in future for Ben.

Miliband E., will have to pick someone new to put up against the currently-fearless Jeremy Hunt. And it could well be a woman.

Let's assume Yvette gets something "better". Tessa Jowell will also want "improvement". Mary Creagh is fluent in French and Italian, so that's got to be used in an FCO offshoot.  Ann McKechin will be needed for Scotland. The Eagle sisters are a bit serious (though Maria has played cricket to a good level). Meg Hillier is a possibility - an address in Islington has previous gone well with Culture, but surely the showbiz choice is Caroline Flint ?