TUC hams it up at the Houses of Parliament

The Diary would never suggest that the Houses of Parliament have seen more than their fair share of porkies over the years, but it did raise a titter to see a 10-ft tall, helium-filled inflatable pig camped outside the building last week.

The stunt was a promotional prop used by the Trades Union Congress as part of a campaign to highlight issues surrounding Pension Protect Schemes, with the pig representing a money-box. The Diary cannot comment on rumours that several confused Japanese tourists mistook it for John Prescott.