Remember Ivor Caplin? The former Hove MP and defence minister returned to battle with the media yesterday – only this time on the football field.
The traditional match between Lobby journalists and Labour, whose side included Cabinet ministers Ed Balls and Andy Burnham, ended in a convincing 5-1 victory for the Parliamentary scribblers.
Our source in the journalists’ team says a shaven-headed Caplin, who left Parliament in 2005 to pursue other interests, gave a cameo appearance, “huffing and puffing for about 10 minutes before staggering off the pitch complaining his boots were broken”.
Hacks hope the match, which took place at Brighton & Hove Albion’s ground, will be the last they play at the Withdean stadium, with all eyes on the rising erection at Falmer.
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