Steerpike

Some voters may be rather puzzled by David Cameron's comments that Prime Ministerial terms 'are like shredded wheat: two are wonderful but three might just be too many'. The most popular Shredded Wheat today is the bitesize variety (above). But Mr S is informed that the original, monster-sized Shredded Wheat was a staple of the breakfast halls of Eton in the late 1970s. When the Prime Minister was 16 years old, a popular advertising campaign was running about how you could eat two of these things but not three. One of these adverts in particular would have resonated in Eton's dining room:- And here's exhibit B:- And exhibit C, a 'down the caff' version:- So all is revealed.

Who needs the Comedy Channel when you have Newsnight? The best part last night was watching Michael Gove who has been dispatched to try to make sense of David Cameron's tragicomic pre-resignation. You can't, of course, there is no logic that justifies starting a leadership race on the week you're supposed to launch a general election campaign. Gove could not keep a straight face when coming up with his 'he just gave an honest answer' line and attempts to make a serious discussion about this farce collapsed. Oh, and Cameron was right to mention Boris, Theresa May and Osborne as his three most likely successors - he must be keeping an eye on the bookmakers, who have them as the three favourites.

This morning Danny Alexander is scheduled to reveal the Liberal Democrats' proposed alternative budget. Alas, Vince Cable appears to have missed the memo. Speaking about the budget on LBC yesterday, Cable claimed he would be leading the Lib Dem budget: Presenter: Is it difficult to sit through a Budget like that and be barely mentioned? As a party, not personally. Vince Cable: If it’s the response to the Budget tomorrow, I will be leading and I will be setting the tone of the debate. Cable was demoted as Liberal Democrat economy spokesman in January in favour of Alexander. Happily, Mr S hears Cable will still have a role in the Lib Dem budget later in the day after Alexander has given the main speech.

Zac Goldsmith recently wrote in the Spectator that it was his father - not the Labour party - who had stopped Britain from joining the euro. The Conservative MP claimed his dad Sir James Goldsmith was to thank, after his Referendum party battled to 'ensure that Britain would never join the euro without the consent of the people'. One man who appears to disagree, however, is former Prime Minister Sir John Major. Major has written a letter in this week's Spectator arguing that Goldsmith did not have any effect on government policy: 'Much as I admire filial loyalty, I cannot allow Zac Goldsmith’s article about his father to go uncorrected.

Douglas Alexander claimed this week that Facebook has made it difficult for politicians to campaign successfully. He said that Labour were struggling to win back voters in Scotland as a result of conspiracy theories being posted on social media. Perhaps Labour's campaign chief  was simply trying to make early excuses for his own performance in the upcoming election. Alexander is predicted to lose his Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat to a 20-year-old SNP candidate. In a bid to turn the tide, Alexander has been desperately tapping up friends for much-needed campaign cash. Mr S can reveal that the former lawyer has taken £28,000 since January.