Chipping Norton continues to be the focus of intense scrutiny amid the phone-hacking row.

And now one of the so-called “Chipping Norton Set” has lifted the lid on what is discussed around the dinner tables of power in west Oxfordshire.

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson described a Christmas function complete with “cocktails made with crushed socialists” before Rupert Murdoch joined the party on a live video link “from his private volcano stroking a white cat”.

In his Sunday Times column (a newspaper owned by Mr Murdoch’s News International), he mocked suggestions of a Chippy conspiracy and claimed he recalled David Cameron and Rebekah Brooks discussing nothing more controversial than sausage rolls. He admitted “much had gone wrong in recent years” but said the root cause would not be found in Chipping Norton.

Nice try Jeremy, your loyalty is admirable.

And Prime Minister and Witney MP MP David Cameron might need all the friends he can get as the hacking scandal steadily encroaches on his door.

On Tuesday, his odds on being the next Cabinet member to lose his job came in from 6-1 to 4-1 as the grilling of ex-police chiefs, the Murdochs and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks unfolded.

But it seems Dave still has the gift of the gab. The price on his head drifted back out to 5-1 as he danced his way through Prime Minister’s Questions.

If he does go, it might not spell the end of Oxfordshire’s love affair with Downing Street.

Former Henley MP Boris Johnson is favourite to become the next Tory leader.

And an outside chance is Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, worth an each-way punt at 33-1?

FORMER Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris has finally found a new Parliamentary role.

While his Conservative successor Nicola Blackwood quizzed former police officers on phone hacking (a lively affair but without question the B-movie of Tuesday’s Parliamentary entertainment), Dr Harris found himself in the mix at the main event with the Murdochs.

As we reeled from the surprise “custard pie” attack on Rupert Murdoch, the cry went out “is there a doctor in the house?”. Up stepped Dr Harris.

He proudly tweeted “was let into room by police as it was being cleared in case medical assist needed. Rupert #Murdoch told me that he was OK”.

Phew, crisis averted.

Oxfordshire County Council’s new education supremo, councillor Melinda Tilley, says she is ready for the fight to improve the county’s schools. And she revealed this week she might have the attributes needed. Her predecessor, Michael Waine was an ex-headteacher and that didn’t work.

But Mrs Tilley has declared she is a “huge boxing fan”.

There may be only one way to settle future fall-outs with education officers... FIGHT!