Clouds

Some individuals within the newly elected coalition government camps seem likely to discover that holding office can be a fleeting experience. Others are finding out just how rapidly party machines can dispense with someone previously considered indispensible.

For example, treasury minister and power-broker David Laws finds himself in hot water for a breaching of parliamentary expenses before the ink on the official headed notepaper has dried. No word on whether Nick Clegg is going to allow this stain on the Lib Dem's squeaky clean image to continue.

Closer to home, the irascible former radio presenter and tory hopeful Chris Smart has had his expectations trashed by the party hierarchy. Smart was next in line to assume party's regional slot for South West Wales which should have been vacated by Alun Cairns following is success in winning a seat at Westminster. It seems however that Conservative bosses hold no illusions over the possible hostages to outrageous fortune that such a switch might involve and Cairns will be holding both posts for the foreseeable future.

As it says in the song, its cloud's illusions you recall, etc.

Update (23:14): Law resigns - but no such luck regarding Smartie.