With Parliament in recess, those of us left rattling around the deserted corridors of Westminster have had to find other things to gossip about.

The latest is a brewing scandal of Watergate proportions – did Boris agree to paint his new cycle superhighways their distinctive tone of garish blue because it also happens to be the corporate colour of Barclays bank, which sponsors the scheme? Read more

There seems to be some disappointment about VInce Cable’s indication that Northern Rock will not be turned back into a building society. The business secretary has told The Journal that remutualisation was not actively being considered.

Michael Stephenson, chief executive of the Co-operative Party, said that the coalition had “failed its first big test on co-operatives” early into the Parliament.

“By reneging on their commitment to re-mutualise Northern Rock, Vince Cable has shown that their devotion to a new approach to the economy is just a sham,” he said.

“Just like David Cameron’s Big Society, this is a Big Con. They are dumping all of their promises one by one and showing that they are just like the last Conservative government which de-mutualised all of our building societies.”

There are two problems with Michael’s reasoning. Read more

Diplomats get trade targets – FT
Unlikely alliance unites against Tories’ planning policy – FT
Business experts get say on red tape – FT
Ministers consider ealy rise in pension age – Telegraph
Cameron late for first meeting with Berlusconi – Guardian
New shadow cabinet faces scramble to decide on deficit policy – Guardian
Getting tough on Pakistan would be disastrous – FT
Labour leadership hopefuls grilled by a cabbie – Sun Read more