Field Inquiry Draft Report done

At long last, the inquiry which was meant to last nine days has a draft report after eight months.

Now a few things to watch out for:

* When the PM says she has not seen the draft, this is is literally true but she almost certainly has been briefed on what it says.

* The fact she has mentioned there is a draft report suggests that the level of misbehaviour has not been enough to warrant charges or losing one’s seat. If it was really bad news, then there would be no mention of the report until they had worked out an exit strategy for Field.

* Be very very cautious about leaks from the draft report – especially in the Sunday papers. Remember how Benson-Pope leaked a couple of sentences totally out of context

* The sooner the final report is released the better it is for Field. If there is no final report for several weeks, then he is fighting against the draft. If they release it at 4.30 pm this Friday then he feels it is harmless

* The inquiry had no powers at all to force people to testify.