The Liberal Democrats have unveiled a secret weapon in their fight to oust Labour’s Andrew Smith as Oxford East MP — Floella Benjamin.

Yes, the former Play School presenter and Chancellor of Exeter University is a fully signed-up member of Steve Goddard’s push for Parliament, apparently.

A Lib Dem insider confided: “Last time (2005) Oxford East was not a national target seat.

“This time round we have the resources and are fighting hard... we have got people like Floella Benjamin, who we wouldn’t have had last time round.”

Mr Smith should be afraid. Very afraid. Especially if Big Ted is on board too.

Could the installation of Stephen Brown as Oxford Liberal Democrat group leader usher in a new era of co-operation at the Town Hall?

He seems to think so.

At a recent meeting he promised city council leader Bob Price: “Where we feel you are doing what we, or arguably anyone else would have done, we will support you.”

Wow, that’s progress. And in an election year, too.

Airbrushing, it appears, is all the rage since that poster of an unblemished David Cameron did the rounds recently.

One regular correspondent suggested The Insider should visit a humourous website — mydavidcameron.com — where people can create their very own Conservative campaign posters, with a little help from Photoshop.

And they were right. It’s hilarious.

If you can’t beat them, join them. The Insider has always been a technophobe, but has begun to appreciate the delights of Twitter.

For those of you not familiar with the website, it allows users to describe the events of the day in one-sentence bulletins.

The Oxford Mail currently has 985 followers on its account. Why not visit twitter.com/TheOxfordMail and see if you can take us past the 1,000 mark?