Blog: If duck houses and raiding hotel mini-bars fed the appetite for political scandal during 2009, everyone from political diarists to column inch toe-dippers should not be put off by the menu for 2010.

Already we have seen photographs of party leaders sitting awkwardly in classrooms trying to relate to six-year-olds and that can only mean one thing — a general election.

But before the country goes to the polls there is the matter of the Chilcot Inquiry, which is proving to be a theatre-goer’s dream, offering live cat and mouse games between its “star” witnesses and the ever articulate panel.

Last week we had Alastair Campbell tell us he stood by the dossier which contributed to Shropshire soldiers being killed or injured in the “war on terror.”

He turned up, only as Alastair could, in an orgy of media speculation that he might finally redeem himself and damn his former chief, Blair.

It was not to be.

If the public were looking for blood they were disappointed. Al stood by his leader and backed “every single word” in the dossier – despite overwhelming claims the dossier was known at the top to be nothing more than a brochure for war.

Former war cabinet member Clare Short wrote in her book, An Honourable Deception, that the war was flawed from the beginning.

Since the inquiry kicked off last July, the Conservatives and Lib Dems have wasted no time in adding their two cents to the potential Labour death sentence.

The Conservatives have asked the inquiry to look into claims that Jeff Hoon, the Defence Secretary from 2001 to 2005, delayed sending troops appropriate equipment to protect themselves.

The inquiry will again dominate the headlines this week, with Hoon taking the hot seat today and Jack Straw MP, former Foreign Affairs secretary, up on Thursday.

If the Inquiry continues to give members of Blair’s war cabinet a public lambasting, it could all work in the Conservatives’ favour — despite them also supporting the war.

Tensions are running high among the  families of dead or injured soldiers, some of whom are from Shropshire.

If the Tory tops can tap into this and successfully place blame at Labour’s door, the colour of government could turn blue come May.

Their can be no doubt the general election has taken off: Labour will reminisce at any opportunity on what they have achieved, while Cameron has treated us to large posters of himself looking rather youthful.

I spotted one in Ketley and thought it will only be a matter of time until someone gets a ladder and some spray paint to give him a makeover of their own.

The Lib Dems also seem to be making more noise that usual around this time of year.

Nick Clegg has already thrown back the offer of a political canoodle from Cameron and hit out at the shadow cabinet for their record on gay rights.

As Clegg knows all to well, securing the “pink vote” can be rewarding because it makes up a respectable cross section of the electorate on a single issue.

But aside from the inquiry circus, duck houses and winning over the gays, the next few months will no doubt have a Shakespearian twist as the public are in the mood for political blood.

By Jason Lavan