A few weeks ago, Gordon Brown said he wanted his Government to be spin-free and to concentrate on the real issues that matter to people.

One would have thought that with the Labour leadership sewn up, he wouldn't have had to think of using spin until he takes over the reins in Downing Street.

Well, think again, because I can reveal that at least one of the questions posed to Mr Brown at the recent hustings event in Oxford was planted.

According to a fellow blogger of mine (Guido Fawkes), "two party officials were spotted 'helping a questioner' with the question they had submitted for Gordon to answer" about Aids in Africa.

This sort of thing always goes on in the Commons, of course, when Labour whips give baby socialists creepy questions to read out.

Some of them can't read very well so they have to keep it very simple and even then, their stumbling attempts to make sense of the printed word can be so embarrassing.

But a Labour hustings?

It just shows that whatever Mr Brown says, spin will always be alive and kicking in a Gordon Brown Government.

GEOFFREY BROOKING, Paradise Street, Oxford.