CULTURE Minister and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey was fulfiling his brief on Saturday night, offering a running commentary on the Eurovision Song Contest.

Mr Vaizey, a long standing fan of pop music (regularly keeping us up to date with his views on X Factor), tweeted: “Iceland, superb”.

He expressed his disappointment at missing Bosnia before tipping them or France to finish second to the UK.

However, he lamented the fact everyone was singing in English.

The insider always thought the ambitious Mr Vaizey, right, was a rising star, and perhaps he is angling for a top job.

Vaizey to replace Cheryl Cole as an X Factor judge anyone?

* HE has come under fire for controversial policies on student tuition fees, public spending cuts and most recently his health reforms.

But was Witney MP and PM David Cameron ready for the latest onslaught when he opened the broadsheets on Sunday morning?

No, not the allegations that continue to dog his Environment Secretary.

The broadside from The Sunday Times’ Style magazine was an attack on his wardrobe, not his cabinet.

Fashionistas at the glossy mag pulled him up for his regular public appearances in the same navy blue polo shirt.

Perhaps he’ll turn to Mr Vaizey for an X Factor-style makeover? Our advice is don’t ask William Hague.

* Talking of cabinet reshuffles, County Hall was buzzing after two prominent cabinet members “stepped down” this week.

Michael Waine, the beleaguered cabinet member responsible for schools improvement, left his position following several poor report cards from county schools.

But Ian Hudspeth, who many had pegged as the leader in waiting, was also dropped from the front bench.

Mr Hudspeth challenged Keith Mitchell for the leadership last month and now finds himself out on his ear.

So is there a split between the old guard and the young pretenders (contrary to the official party line)?

The fact Mr Hudspeth admitted to his first pedicure this week (declaring it was a lot less painful than waxing) suggests the divisions between him and Keith “proud to be politically incorrect” Mitchell may be deeper than even the insider suspected.

Watch this space.

* AN eagle-eyed reader claimed the Union Flag that hangs outside Oxford’s Randolph Hotel was upside down last week.

If the flag is flown upside down (with the broader white diagonal stripe above the red stripe in the upper corner nearest the flag pole – you have been told) it is seen as a distress signal.

So we can’t believe that was the case at the luxury hotel in Beaumont Street... or perhaps someone had run out of clotted cream at afternoon tea?