George’s Marvelous Pyjama Party

As the details have continued to drip out about David Cameron’s close relationship with Rebekah Brooks, he’s always had one line to fall back on, a classic Cameron jibe at Gordon Brown, as delivered so memorably last year during his mammoth Parliamentary Q&A session on phone hacking:

“I can assure the House that I’ve never held a slumber party or seen her in her pyjamas”

It was a reference to a now (in)famous “sleepover” organised by Sarah Brown. And it’s true that whilst David Cameron may wish Brooks “Lots Of Love”, he hasn’t, to our knowledge, had a sleepover with the former News International boss.

But George Osborne has.

The Independent on Sunday reveals today that:

“As the Leveson inquiry prepares to hear more evidence this week about the relations between News International and the Tories, The Independent on Sunday has learnt that Rebekah Brooks and her husband spent a weekend at Dorneywood, the Chancellor’s official residence, during a key period in the bid by News Corp to take over BSkyB. The previously undisclosed “pyjama party”, in 2010, which also featured Mr Coulson and his wife, Eloise, will add fuel to demands for the Chancellor to be called to give evidence to Leveson in person.”

And who was sat alongside David Cameron when he made his “pyjama party” joke? George Osborne.

Currently George Osborne isn’t due to appear at the Leveson Enquiry in person. He must.