Don't get too excited - it's only Bridget Prentice*, the junior Justice Minister. But still, it's worth noting.

She has announced on her website today that she won't be contesting Lewisham East at the next election. It was a "difficult, personal decision" she says.

The Tory candidate Jonathan Clamp now appears to be in the strange position of being the only mainstream candidate as the Lib Dem also announced recently he would not contest the seat. Could the Tories clinch a key Labour seat in its normally safe heartland in innner London?

Either way, there's bound to be the "rat leaves sinking ship" charge levelled by the Government's critics.

The interesting thing about this seat is that it used to be a classic Labour-Tory marginal. Prentice herself won it from Colin Moynihan back in 1992. He in turn took it from Labour in 1983. Local Tories say Lib Dem and Labour voters are now flocking back.

FOOTNOTE* In case you were wondering, this doesn't appear to have anything to do with ministers'  second homes. Prentice claimed zero pounds last year for ACA.