Jack Straw has revealed that he is more electable than his boss, Tony Blair.

Both men have applied for the 200-year-old, predominantly male dining society, named Nobody's Friends.

The maximum membership is 100 senior public figures including bishops, judges, politicians, civil servants, military leaders and other "notable individuals."

The Prime Minister and Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had both put in bids to join this powerful and secretive body.

However, it appears that Mr Blair has lost out on the grounds that potential members must have good character and be "modest."

Having been informed that not enough of the members believed his fitted the bill, Mr Blair has withdrawn his application.

But I understand that Mr Straw, who asked to join as a favour for a close friend, is in line to succeed.

DURING celebrations for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last year, Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans was delighted to see people being photographed with the guest celebrity Manchester United and Scotland soccer star Denis Law.

Labour Deputy Leader of the Commons and Oldham MP Phil Woolas related to me with relish this week how Mr Evans tried to get his own picture with a football legend.

He was stunned when Mr Law refused.

When the boy Nigel asked why the soccer legend replied: "I am a Labour supporter. I don't get photographed with Tory MPs."

ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson is one of the MPs and Peers on a special cross party and joint House of Lords/House of Commons body that has considered the new Gambling Bill.

She has found herself in the the midst of fierce argument over whether the advent of Regional Super Casinos and other relaxations will lead to a new generation of young gambling addicts. And research has discovered one thing to her advantage.

Along with Southport Liberal Democrat John Pugh, the former Labour minister is one of just two Parliamentarians on the committee without any links to the gambling industry.