In the aftermath of Gordon Brown’s decision not to call an election this autumn, the three young Turks repeatedly mentioned in the media as in favour of a snap poll are Douglas Alexander, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband.

But, says my source in the corridors of power, there was one other person in that camp and, so far, everyone has been scared to name him. Who could this possibly be?

“It’s Damian McBride, Brown’s spokesman,” I’m told. “He was spinning the line every day to hacks, but since Brown’s decision, no one has mentioned his name as they’re all too scared to fall out with him.”