Whelan back?

The Torygraph's first list of Gordon Brown's biggest influences includes one stand-out name: Charlie Whelan.

The comeback kid. No one epitomised the aggressiveness of the Brownite regime better than Whelan. But two years into the Blair years he spun out of control and was forced to leave the stage.

However, the wilderness years of fishing in the Highlands are over and he is back as press man for super union Unite. Still dines with Sue Nye and has re-established important links with his man now he is at Number 10.

Presumably these "important links" don't extend to giving the government an easy ride on policies Unite doesn't agree with.