By Tim Shipman

Last updated at 3:13 PM on 10th February 2012

The BBC were quickly onto the news last night that three Cabinet ministers were privately calling for David Cameron to drop both the Health and Social Care Bill and his Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

An eager producer on one of the corporation's flagship current affairs programmes was quick to start texting special advisers to see if their ministers were the guilty men.

One read: 'Hi Paul. Calling from the BBC re health bill story on Conservative Home. They say "3 Tory cabinet ministers have now also rung the alarm bell. One was insistent the bill must be dropped.

Bad judgement? Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, should have appointed Paul Stephenson from the time of the election, say Tim Shipman

Bad judgement? Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, should have appointed Paul Stephenson from the time of the election, say Tim Shipman

Another said Andrew lanlsey must be replaced. Anotehr likened the NHS reforms to the poll tax". Wanted to know if your minister was one of the 3. And doe he supports (sic) the health bill. Pls call.'

Unfortunately, the Paul in question was Paul Stephenson, who happens to be Andrew Lansley's special adviser.

When informed of this the BBC man sent another text: 'oops. guess your minister isn't the source then. feeling a bit stupid right now'.

An amusing moment, but one that reveals more.

Mr Stephenson, who was previously Philip Hammond's spad when he was transport secretary, might have been better known by the broadcasters if he had been put in charge of Mr Lansley's PR from the time of the election.

Paul won't thank me for saying so, since he is an admirer of and loyal advocate for his man, but it is definitive evidence of Lansley's disastrous judgement that he chose not to take Mr Stephenson - by common consent one of the best communicators and operators in Westminster - with him from opposition into government.

Instead he put at his side someone who was catastrophically unsuited to the role. Someone who was unwilling or unable to make Mr Lansley explain his plans using language explicable to the rest of the human race.

The Health Department and Downing Street have been playing communications catch up ever since.