The allegations against Chris Renard, like all such allegations, provoke the inflammatory old saying "No smoke without fire". As a longstanding pipe-smoker I know that it takes attention to light a fire and more attention to blow smoke rings. It would be interesting to know whether the women concerned approached Channel 4 or Channel 4 approached them. If the latter, who prompted Channel 4 and why now ? Were the women interviewed before or after the Eastleigh by-election was called ? Whatever the answers, we cannot doubt that the Tory press is exploiting the issue to the full. Just look at today's misleading headlines. Can anyone believe that these allegations have emerged during the Eastleigh by-election by accident ? The Tories themselves can maintain a disingenuous silence. Their backers in the press will do their work for them. Another old saying applies, when dining with the Tories "Take a long spoon"
