Maria Miller - no longer welcome in Culture Club?

There's an old saying in politics that when you're in the story you may survive, but when you are the story your time is up. That appears to be the position of the Culture secretary, Maria Miller, whose story led on Newsnight this evening.

It's no longer about the rights and wrongs of the case involving her expenses, it's about the reputation of the Conservatives in general, and David Cameron in particular. He's so far given her his full public support, but any football manager can tell you the value of such an endorsement, which often comes just before the request to clear their desk.

There's no suggestion that Ms Miller has broken any law, and she has paid back the money claimed in error, followed by an apology to the House of Commons. However, when the case is creating backbench mumblings about the judgement of the Prime Minister, I'm certain that phone calls and meetings about the matter will be involving a number of high-ranking Tories, and probably Ms Miller  herself, over the weekend. 

Westminster is an unforgiving place, and the knives are already being sharpened. The only way to staunch the flow of rumours and innuendo is for Ms Miller to go quietly.

Frankly, I will be amazed if she is still in her post on Monday morning. Even if she is, I'd advise her to take a cardboard box into work.