No aides to recovery

News that Labour MP and top-up fees rebel Ian Gibson had suffered a stroke during a political trip to Israel last month prompted some opportunism in his Norwich constituency. Rumour has it that while Dr Gibson was recovering in his hospital bed, local party activists were busy lining up a women-only shortlist for his seat. But they may have been a little over-eager. Dr Gibson, who gave a telephone interview to his local paper within 48 hours of his stroke, was back in Westminster causing trouble this week.