The mysterious tale of Michael Gove and the traffic cone has taken another twist after an eyewitness came forward to offer his side of the story.
The story starts on a dark night more than 20 years ago when the education secretary was a trainee reporter, cutting his teeth on a local paper in Aberdeen. Gove was, controversially, on strike over a union recognition dispute, when he decided to make the ultimate political statement - and "redeploy" a traffic cone.
After a stint at a local pub - which may explain his "hazy recollection" of the night's events - Gove allegedly reinstated the afore-mentioned traffic cone on the top of a viaduct in the Union Street area of the city.
Last June, a "friend" of the cabinet minister's recounted how Gove had felt a tap on the shoulder from Grampian Police, who suggested the cone's new home was not the most effective way of dealing with traffic issues. After the reprimand, the 20-year-old was then informed he could "continue on his way".
Mike Elrick, who rubbed shoulders with the secretary of state at the Press and Journal paper told The New Statesman the incident was "an act of hooliganism".
Elrick, a former adviser to Labour politicians Lord Reid, previously home secretary, and John Smith, former party leader, is obviously keen to set the record straight.
"He was old enough to know better," Elrick continued. "Gove was spotted by the police doing it and was bundled swiftly into the back of a police van, which then drove off to police HQ.
"Sadly, Gove wasn't charged but was let off with a warning."
The Huffington Post was unable to obtain a comment on Gove's past as his office is now closed for Christmas.
No-one was hurt in the incident.