Unhealthy attachment to work

Higher education minister Alan Johnson was last week promised a state funeral if he dropped dead while voting for foundation hospitals within the Palace of Westminster.

On the day of the foundation hospitals debate, the minister was taken ill with stomach problems and told to go immediately to a drop-in medical centre used by MPs, which had staff lined up to examine him.

However, Labour whips prevented him from leaving the Commons because the vote might be called at any time, promising him the state funeral instead.

The Diary is pleased to report that the minister appears to have made a full recovery.