The Scotsman reports:

In the midst of the meltdown, the Prime Minister has not, apparently, relinquished his authoritarianism. He has admonished the “freelancing” attempts by John Hutton, the Business Secretary and Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, for hinting to voters that there would be a retreat on fuel and vehicle excise duty taxes.

It is reminiscent of his recent behaviour, when according to a No10 mole, he phoned Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, at 7am to ask him why the Today programme had flagged up an interview with him when it had not been “cleared” with the PM. A weary Mr Johnson replied that he had not yet even left home.

It turns out Today had an interview with Alan Johnston, the Scottish journalist who had been held hostage in Gaza.