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So, how hard does the Tory shadow cabinet want to work for their constituents and for victory at the next election? Just how serious are they about guiding Britain through torrid times? Er…

William Hague threatened to lead a walk-out if David Cameron forced his Shadow Cabinet to give up their lucrative second jobs, it was claimed last night.

The Tory leader planned to ban ‘moonlighting’ by Christmas, but has since backed down in the face of an internal revolt.

How’s that for strong leadership. It should certainly make for interesting times should Cameron make it to Number 10. ‘I told Russia they must withdraw their troops from Georgia. They said no. I said “ok, then”‘. ‘I told the energy companies to pass on the fall in the price of oil but they refused. What can you do, eh?’

Still, I suppose these shadow ministers have got a point – looking after a constituency and preparing for a putative role in government must be a doddle. Running the country looks a breeze right now so why not have two, three, four, five other things on the go?

That said, it looks very much to me as if some in the shadow cabinet are hedging their bets. Hanging onto their better paid positions betrays a lack of confidence in winning the next election, I’d say. That swagger of 12 months ago has well and truly been replaced by tip-toeing about.

Not that New Labour can afford to laugh. Most cabinet ministers, once they’re reshuffled out, run screaming not back to their constituencies for a quiet life serving their communities in return for their not ungenerous £65,000 per annum, but to the nearest private equity firm, lobbying company, or public relations machine.

‘Public servant’ doesn’t look so good on the CV on its own I suppose. It sounds a little, well, common, doesn’t it? There’s something rather backstairs about it. Look at the sneering dished out to Brian Sedgemore for example, a man who did nothing but serve his constituency for 22 years. The loser. Imagine the sour faces at the cocktail parties when you announce you’re a mere hardworking constituency MP or a slaving shadow minister itching to serve your country.

Not that those types get invited to cocktail parties, obviously. It takes money to rub shoulders with money. Just ask Tony Blair. It begins to make politics look not the end destination of a career but a stepping stone to ‘bigger’ and ‘better’ things.