+++ Wilf Stevenson Resigns From Smith Institute ++++++ Lord Haskel Resigns Chairmanship of Trustees +++

Guido has learnt that following the condemnation by the Charity Commission of the trustees of the Smith Institute, Lord Haskel has resigned as chairman of the trustees, Wilf Stevenson has also resigned as director after the unprecedented criticism of the charity for partisanship.

Paul Hackett, a wonk who has written some pamphlets for the Sith, is the "acting director". The offices are closed and Guido has confirmed that the Smith Institute will no longer be based at the New Statesman's offices. The rumour in wonk-land has it that the IPPR has taken pity on them and will be giving them space at their offices.

Mission accomplished, Sith in disarray. Guido won.

Don't forget we also have the prospect of an Electoral Commission investigation into illegal undeclared "donations in kind" by the Smith Institute to Gordon Brown.

Gordon @ PMQs

Mrs Fawkes prevented Guido from seeing the first PMQs clash live (the picture on the right is from a previous PMQs session) but reports reach Guido that in the Public Gallery were Gordon's brother and Wilf Stevenson. They will have been disappointed.

Watching the recording, Brown got off to a surprisingly shaky and stammering start. The act he is putting on will be difficult to maintain, trying to sound unnaturally consensua, as fake as his new smile. Give it a few months and the inner Gordon will come through. His perfomance was such that he was slapped down by Ming. That was a change...

May the Force* Be With You

To the Jedi going into Sith HQ tonight - do give Guido's regards to Konrad.

Beckett is speaking about John Smith. Maybe the co-conspirators / Jedi should ask her about the secret political slush fund she operated during his period of leadership which was only closed down shortly before it became illegal.

*The Metropolitan Police Force.

UPDATE : 20:00 You have to laugh, she anointed the attending Gordon Brown as the heir to John Smith, peppering her speech shamelessly with favourable comparisons. Like Guido has always said, the only benficiary of this charity is G. Brown. Yours truly got a name-check by the warm-up comedian.

Sith's Wilf and Gordon's New Policies

From: Guido Fawkes

To: FoI Unit HM Treasury

7 February, 2007

Dear Sirs,

This is an FoI request concerning an email sent by Wilf Stevenson, of the Smith Institute, last month to a number of persons based at at HM Treasury. The email was also addressed to staff at some leading think-tanks including the the Smith Institute, IPPR and Demos. In it I understand that Wilf Stevenson explained that Gordon Brown was interested in gathering in policy ideas for his administration and that he would like to co-ordinate this activity.

I believe that Ed Balls and John Healey were also recipients of the email.

The activities of the Smith Institute with regard to policy formulation at HM Treasury are of great public interest. Please could you, in the first instance, provide me with a copy of this email and any other emails sent by Wilf Stevenson to persons based at HM Treasury.

Regards,

Guido Fawkes Esq.