Perfect. It’s not every day that Post EIC Col Allan sets off an international scandal, complete with strippers and born-again Christian politicians. Back in 2003, Allan went to strip club Scores with Australian shadow foreign affairs minister Kevin Rudd, a religious Christian who’s tipped to become the country’s next prime minister. All well and good… It’s understandable that Rupert Murdoch would have an interest in Allan wining and dining an influential Aussie politician; it’s also understandable that Allan, an Australian, would want to spend time with Rudd.

Then Syndey’s Sunday Telegraph broke the story that Rudd got a bit too excited at the club. In fact, Scores management kicked Rudd and fellow guest MP Warren Snowdon out for “inappropriate behavior” which apparently included being a bit too grabby with the dancers. Now the Australian press is having a field day with the story. Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer is suspected of leaking the story to the Telegraph.

— Neal Ungerleider