SINCE this diary reported the mysterious damage to the website of Labour left think-tank Compass, news has reached us of another suspected hack attack this week. On Monday evening, as Gordon Brown met the Parliamentary Labour Party to head-off a rebellion over the 10p tax rate, it emerged that 39 MPs had backed Frank Field’s amendment postponing the changes to income tax until a compensation package for those losing out is agreed. Whose name was on the list among less seasoned rebels and ex-ministers? Arch-leftie John McDonnell, of course. And whose frequently updated blog stopped working the next morning?


