Can John Whittingdale avoid the scotch and the revolver much longer?

Gone are the days of the swift resignation, a stretch in the sin bin, then back for a new ministerial post. But the culture secretary may not last for ever

Alastair Campbell has an oft-quoted “golden rule” about political scandals. If they stay in the headlines for more than a week the MP or minister who features in them is doomed. Or is it more than 10 days? Or even 12? Actually Campbell now says he never said it, which is a shame because the remark contains a kernel of truth. Sooner or later No 10 has to cut its losses if it can’t get closure. John Whittingdale? Nine days into the British government’s first online dating uproar, it’s too soon to say. Every case is different.

But has Campbell’s golden non-rule been abandoned since his team lost power in 2010? The coalition government certainly changed all sorts of things, not least ministerial willingness to disagree in public (as the current referendum demonstrates) and the reluctance of the prime minister to reshuffle his talent pool.

David Laws came back. So did Mandelson (twice) and long ago, Cecil Parkinson, damaged goods and after a decent interval

Related: John Whittingdale visited lapdancing club as part of MPs' inquiry

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