Tories are left playing by Aussie rules

Tory campaign boss Lynton Crosby invited the former Australian Prime Minister John Howard into Conservative Party HQ on Thursday afternoon to give staff and ministers a mid-campaign pep talk.

Firing up his audience with tales of beating Labour down under, Mr S hears the bit where Crosby’s one-time client lost both the 2007 election and his own seat, did not make it into the speech.

After the Conservatives manifesto cover was lifted from the Aussie Liberal Party – another Crosby client – MPs are wondering what else will be ‘borrowed’ by the antipodean guru.

‘He’ll have us in cork hats by polling day,’ sighs one member of the old guard.