The Insider is, of course, far too polite to accuse Ed Vaizey of self-promotion – but sometimes you have to wonder.

It appears the Wantage MP and culture minister, right, has been hawking his new digital column on a GQ iPad application, to anyone who will listen in Whitehall.

Under the guise of “promoting important cultural events in the UK”, Mr Vaizey said in an online video: “I can’t think of any more (important) cultural event than the launch of the app, which contains my must-read Ed Vaizey monthly column.”

We are sure his finely-crafted prose will leave millions riveted. But in the interests of fairness, will we see him promoting the work of rival publishers?

l WHEN Nicola Blackwood won the Oxford West and Abingdon seat at the General Election last year, she celebrated by singing Everytime We Say Goodbye on Radio Oxford.

Now it has emerged that she is keeping up her music practice in the House of Commons.

In The Ship, the alumni magazine for Oxford University’s St Anne’s College, Ms Blackwood reveals that she occasionally plays the piano in the official apartments of Speaker John Bercow, in the Palace of Westminster.

Ms Blackwood’s assistant, Bianca D’Orsi, confirmed to The Insider that the MP has played the piano occasionally, while waiting for late sittings in the Commons.

She said: “Nicola loves music, but this happens only very occasionally. She is extremely busy answering constituency correspondence.”

Can any readers think of suitable song for the Tory rising star to sing? Answers to the usual address.

lHe’s one of Oxfordshie’s top cops and no stranger to getting his face in the paper. But it seems Witney’s Chief Inspector Colin Paine got a little camera shy when he realised his mug could adorn many a television screen this Christmas.

The Insider hears that while chuckling in the audience at a Peter Kay gig this week – being filmed for the inevitable festive DVD – the inspector panicked slightly when he realised the camera was on him.

He wrote on Twitter: “Peter Kay at NEC. Audience cam lands on us. I do the honourable thing and hide behind the bloke in front.”

We must ask: why so coy? You have the right to remain silent Mr Paine but anything you do say may be used as evidence against you!

lLib Dem county councillor Jean Fooks was all a-flummoxed at County Hall this week over the new schedule of meetings published for the coming months.

For the second year running, in 2012 a council cabinet meeting will clash with the only time in the year Lib Dems can respectably wear sandals – the trip to the beach for the annual conference, next year in Brighton.

Couldn’t something be done about it, she demanded of council leader Keith Mitchell in the council chamber?

“Given the size of the Lib Dems these days, they might as well hold their conference here and we’ll go down the corridor,” he replied.