Like a lot of  folk I enjoy a bit of a lie-in on a Sunday morning - so the bedside phone ringing at 8 am was unwelcome especially as I had only turned in five hours earlier.
On the end of the line an unfamiliar voice greets me in an very familiar way. The hack on the other end assures me we have spoken before (although I'm pretty sure we haven't) and asks if I've seen the Sunday Times yet.

I drowsily surveyed the bedclothes and conclude I don't have a copy to hand because otherwise I would have been pinned to the mattress by the sheer weight of glossy supplements

" No sorry mate, can't help you, try a newsagent"

The journo explains Chris Huhne's ex wife has written a book in which she alleges the MP persuaded someone to take three points on their licence for him - the Times had run the story did I know anything?

'Proper' journalists don't like bloggers but occasionally we have our uses - not this time though.

"I know  it wasn't me"

But I have indeed heard the story before - although I can't remember who was it who told me.

This is because I tend to get told a lot stuff.

People have have the idea that bloggers will happily publish stories or tittle -tattle the press won't touch. That might be true of some bloggers (good luck to them), but from my point of view, if I know the press won't run a particular story  - then neither will I.

I don't mind passing on the chance of an 'exclusise' in return for a good nights sleep

I would still rather hear the stories than not - it could tie up with something else and it's good to know what might be sizzling in the background but when I first heard this rumour I filed it under 'F' for 'forget' because I was never going to publish it first and frankly, at the time I didn't believe it.

What is different now is his ex-wife appears to be saying the story is true.

I thought I'd better get get up and check out the Sunday Times.

Not an easy task. My NTL internet connection was down.

Ah ha! Time for Plan B!

I  have a laptop with a built in wi-fi thingy  so I can connect to BT...but.not this morning... for some inexplicable reason that's not working either.

But wait ..there is a Plan C.

I also have a free PAYG dial up account...after several more minutes of futile searching I recall I chucked the phone extension because I had decided it was unlikely that I could lose both wi-fi and cable access at the same time.

After two cups coffee and an hour of staring at a blank screen waiting for something to happen I notice out of the corner of my eye that the ethernet cable had been disconnected from my cable modem...

Service restored - and having paid a £1 to the Dirty Digger for only the second time since the pay wall went up - I am quite amazed to read Vicki Pryce telling a reporter this incident had taken place. Up till now she had mainly restricted herself to articles in the Independent pointing out the inadequacies of coalition economic policy - this latest revelation is in another league altogether.

During the general election campaign Mr Huhne had frequently told voters that having an MP with a high public profile was a good thing for Eastleigh but I really don't think this is the kind of exposure he had in mind.

Other newspapers ae reporting the story and it seems both the Mail and Telegraph has managed to get a quote from Ms Pryce  themselves - but one in which  she seems to be backpedaling, saying:

"I am aware that he pressurised people to take his driving licence penalty points".

Hang on, thats not the same thing as saying "Yes this did happen".

Later the Telegraph drops the 'pressurised' statement and sticks with the Times quote instead.

The Telegraph also slightly mis-quotes Ms Pryce as saying "He drives like a maniac" rather than the original "He drives like a bit of a maniac".

Three little words - but a world of difference.

These allegations have been doing the rounds - so why are they front page news now?

Out of interest I check bookmakers odds and five out of six bookies have installed Mr Huhne as favourite to become next leader of the Liberal Democrats.

These allegations will damage Mr Huhne's chances whether or not they can be proven (which would mean the alleged substitute driver being produced to face consequences themselves) but even if substantiated, I still think it's survivable.

Firstly the allegations relate to a period when he was not an MP - but also I am reminded of Sir Gerald Nabarro - the Conservative MP - who in 1971 was convicted of driving his Daimler the wrong way round Millbrook roundabout but successfully argued at appeal that his secretary was driving at the time.

He continued to serve in office throughout (although died shortly after).

I rather think as long as speculation continues about the future of Nick Clegg  stories will continue to emerge about his nearest rivals.

We should perhaps brace ourselves for further 'revelations' and keep the hamster cage under lock and key.

Eastleigh News: "Chris Huhne in driving allegations"

Two developments in the world of hyperlocal blogging this week which appear to be moving in opposite directions.
Firstly after just over a year, the Guardian is closing it's experimental hyperlocal sites in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Leeds.
Seems they can't make any money.
What a surprise.
However at the same time the latest moth to the hyperlocal flame has started recruiting editorial staff.
The Huffington Post will start publishing in the UK this summer and is looking for , amongst other posts, an editor to edit and manage contributions from bloggers and hyperlocals ( Don't all rush - it's for graduates only).
Arianna Huffington, having succeeded in selling her U.S site to AOL last year for $315 million - with no compensation going to the army of unpaid bloggers and contributors - fancies pulling off the same stunt in the UK although it seems a multi-million dollar law suit has just been filed in New York on behalf of her thousands of unpaid contributors.
Well, I'm sure the Huffington Post will earn a lot more out of advertising than Eastleigh News ever will - but you know what?
I'll bet you the ecpm and ctr is not that far apart and I doubt if it will be enough to sustain an army of execs in company cars.
The UK already has an established Hyperlocal network - who value their independence.
I can't see them rushing to give away it for free - just for the prestige of having posted on her site.
Ironically the Guardian has already cornered that part of the market with their 'comment is free' section.