It was, perhaps, a signal to the Tory press to worry a little less about Red Ed.

BBC: Party leaders are all Thatcher's children

Not even being caught red-handed by a national newspaper jumping a red light on his bike in April appeared to dent the Tory leader's increasingly stratospheric lead.

BBC: Political review 2008: Conservatives

On Twitter parliamentary journalists are trying to work out - not the next twist in the hacking tale but which Tory MP has just been spotted in holiday 'dress down' red cords.

BBC: Holiday reading? Look away now.

Now he is back on the Tory front line as shadow deregulation secretary as Michael Howard uses him to spearhead his campaign to cut red tape.

BBC: John Redwood