Mr Jones observed that the prime minister and Welsh secretary David Jones had "spent a lot of their time criticising the Welsh government" at last weekend's Welsh Conservative conference in Swansea.

BBC: Health targets attack by Welsh Tories on Labour ministers

It's debatable which of them is more in the other's debt: David Jones for helping Mr Back's retirement fund or Steve Back for giving Mr Jones's UK-wide profile something of a boost.

BBC: Welsh Secretary walks and talks

It was potentially good news for those parties which have campaigned for a St David's Day holiday, although David Jones, since promoted to David Cameron's cabinet, told MPs that it could have cross-border implications: "For that reason it is a matter that properly resides with this parliament".

BBC: Whatever happened to the St David's Day bank holiday?