Gerri Peev: Green baits Jacqui

IF the Home Secretary returns to her constituency home to find a horses' head in her bed, she can rest assured that it won't be some cable-inspired fetish of her husband's for once.

The phrase employed by Damian Green could hold some clues to this.

Green, the shadow immigration minister who was cuffed and fingerprinted last November over his role in publicising Home Office leaks, has been cleared of any conspiracy by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

After having his home and parliamentary office turned over, he is still - understandably - a little angry.

Smith should beware. At a briefing of Lobby hacks, Green was asked where he thought responsibility for the misguided police probe lay. Sporting a Camorra-esque glint in his eye, he said: "I prescribe to the old Italian proverb - fish stink from the head down."

The government is not off the hook on this one.