Not that the offending scribbler will gain much sympathy from the public or MPs. A row broke out between two journalists last night at a reception hosted by Tory Eric Pickles and continued in a room near to the Chamber when the two slipped away from officials who were escorting guests without passes out of the Commons. Blows were exchanged and a policeman who came on the scene used CS spray on one of the protagonists, who was subsequently arrested. The policeman, who also might be in trouble, was said to have suffered "minor injuries", which could mean anything or, more likely, nothing. We wait to see who the offending hack was, presumably not a regular Parliamentary reporter as he or she didn't have a pass. Such scenes are not unknown in the Commons, Alastair Campbell, then political editor of the Daily Mirror, landing one on his opposite number at the Guardian, Michael White, when Mirror proprietor Robert Maxwell died in 1991. White greeted the news that 'Captain Bob' Maxwell had drowned after falling over the side of his yacht off the Canaries by singing the refrain 'bob, bob, bobbing along', which sadly he hadn't. Campbell (this was during his drinking period) took exception and handbags ensued. Will embattled home secretary, and target of her majesty's press, Jacqui Smith order an inquiry into this regrettable affair?