Is McBride back?

An email lands in my inbox, directing me to this story in yesterday’s Scotland on Sunday:

“Just weeks after McBride was forced to resign after writing an e-mail suggesting that Conservative leaders be smeared, insiders say the former special adviser is actively working for ministers again.

Downing Street last night insisted McBride had not returned. But one respected party figure said that while the former adviser was not working at Number 10, he was engaged in informal briefings once again.” Now, this story isn’t conclusive. But the next time Brown or Balls do a broadcast interview, it would be well worth asking them when the last time they spoke to McBride was. When I asked a spokesman for Balls’ this question a while back, he told me wouldn’t waste his boss’s time with such “trivia”.