IT’S often the wives who have to take a backseat when their husbands enter parliament, but not in the Baldwin household.West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, who gave up a lucrative career in investment banking to enter the Commons in 2010, certainly wears the trousers in that relationship.

Thanks to a double-page feature in The Times this week, we learnt how her husband Jim copes with his ambitious other half being at the cut and thrust of British politics.

Mr Baldwin used to work in television, and it turns out he’s been a valuable source of advice for his wife as she plans her way to the top.

It includes the following advice: No “dangly earrings” in the chamber (presumably in case Ed Balls tries to chew them off), “no fidgeting” (probably worth a reminder whenever George Osborne drones on about the economy, zzz) and the best snippet of all, “don’t swing your arms when you’re talking on TV like you’re trying to direct traffic”.

With these pearls of wisdom, Downing Street beckons!

l Question Time took place in Worcester last night, with UKIP leader Nigel Farage one of the guests on the panel.

The right-winger is becoming quite fond of Worcester, a bit like the late Baroness Thatcher, with the visit being his second to the Faithful City in just under a month.

He must be getting to know his way around the place by now. Perhaps he’s on the look-out for the culprit who defaced his party’s poster in Newtown Road.

l Talking about Question Time, the BBC banned all press from last night’s show.

First of all, we were told Worcester Cathedral, the venue for Question Time, would not have room for anyone from the media to sit in and watch it live.

After pointing out the venue is massive, we were then informed a new “strict policy” is in place where no media is allowed in, meaning we’d have to watch it on TV like everyone else.

There’s nothing quite like being fobbed off from an organisation funded via your own pocket.