Andrew Pierce: Michael Cashman

Talking of second-raters, the rumour is that former EastEnders actor Michael Cashman - the first openly gay character in a TV soap - is to be elevated by Ed Miliband to a peerage in this new intake.

After his TV career faded when he left the soap in 1989, Cashman became a Labour MEP and gay rights activist.

Aptly named, he was embroiled in controversy in 2008 when it emerged he was paying his civil partner Paul Cottingham £30,000 a year of taxpayers’ money as an ‘accounts manager, personnel manager and payroll administrator’.

Daily Mail.

Pierce on Cashman is surely the unspeakable in full pursuit of the unelectable?

PS The charming Mr Pierce adds; 'I’m delighted Evan Davis is to be the new face of BBC2’s Newsnight in succession to Jeremy Paxman. Now that he’s leaving Radio 4’s Today programme, I can start listening to it again.'

Update: Oh and a book alleges the young Mr Cashman used to be a right-wing Tory - sounds like him and Andrew should be bosom buddies.