Daily Telegraph: Doubts were already being raised over the good judgement of Sebastian Vane, junior minister at Defra, after his mother’s house was invaded last weekend by young protesters complaining about Defra’s proposed changes to planning regulations. In a separate blow to the minister’s reputation, it was discovered that Mariam Maher, the immigrant Pakistani he employs as tutor for his daughter, has left her husband. UK Visas and Immigration (formerly the UK Border Agency) stated that Mrs Maher does not have the right to stay in this country if she divorces her husband. It was also discovered that, contrary to previous claims by Vane’s office, the Pakistani woman does not possess any teaching qualifications either here or in Pakistan. Shadow minister for Defra, Celine Roberts, claimed last night that ‘this shoddy behaviour illustrates the government’s arrogance and double standards, with one rule for the people and another for themselves’.

Tuesday

Daily Mail: Defra junior minister Sebastian Vane, at the centre of the sordid TUTORGATE scandal, has admitted to paying an illegal immigrant from Pakistan cash to teach his illegitimate teenage daughter about Islam. Neighbours in Ayrness, the quiet harbour town where Mr Vane’s daughter lives, fear that England’s ancient Christian past is under siege. ‘It’s not just the cities,’ one anxious local woman told us. ‘It’s happening in the rural areas too. Mrs Maher wears a headscarf when out shopping and just think of the message that sends. Our islands are being taken over by Islamic missionaries.’

Wednesday

Guardian: Sebastian Vane, Defra’s beleaguered junior minister, was last night refusing to quit after it emerged that his elder brother, George Harcourt-Vane, a property developer, may have benefited from Defra tip-offs in his business dealings with island bureaucrats. Papers lodged with the council offices in Ayrness show that George Harcourt-Vane put in a bid to develop some ancient woodland and a nearby island for housing as early as November. Vane, facing renewed calls for his resignation, refused to answer questions from journalists last night about his future in the government. Dr Quinn, professor of media at City University, observed, ‘This new accusation may stick, if it is proved that information benefiting Mr George Harcourt-Vane in his business affairs did indeed come from the minister, his brother.’

Thursday

Sothebys.com: Edward Burne-Jones / The Sea Nymphs
Estimate: 4,000,000–6,000,000 GBP
Lot sold: 27 bids, reserve met
8,215,000 GBP
Bidding is closed.