I don't normally do gossip on here. But I guess this is not really gossip as much as a "make of it what you will" fact.  And I'm sure that all MPs are currently geeing up their activists just in case but anyway, I thought you might be interested to know...

I hear from a friend that Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has sent an email to Labour activists in the constituency to the effect that a General Election could be as little as nine weeks away.

Andrew was/is reportedly a confidante of Gordo; indeed he was his first Chief Secretary. This was an email to activists as far as I can tell, rather than all supporters. He's certainly already sent out personalized letters to constituents over the past few weeks and another friend the other week (not a party activist I am sure, but likely on a supporter list somewhere) had had a phone call from him discussing "issues".

As I say - make of it what you will. I merely report what I heard.