Daily Mail bites Tory – and draws blood

Score one big one for the Daily Mail . It didn't like the look of David Rowland (or his £750m fortune) as he became the new Tory treasurer. It printed a series of stories about taxation and blondes on knees. At which point, Rowland decided he didn't want the job anyway – and Conservative bloggers applauded warmly. Better Mail opprobrium plus a quick exit now than months of dredging discovery. Perhaps, in a roundabout way, Paul Dacre has done David Cameron a favour. Salute journalists turning over stones because, standard allegiances aside, they just need to see what's underneath.