So the lurid allegations about New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark have been strenuously denied. But what about the near diplomatic incident that unfolded in Managua during those wild and whacky Sandinista days of the 1980s?

A Crikey pal tells the tale of the night idealistic Kiwi Labour MPs Clark and Margaret Wilson – now NZ’s Speaker – took a break from a tour as official guests of the Nicaraguan government. They ended up at what was euphemistically called a “Caribbean bar” – Bambi’s – “a well known hot-spot” our snout says, “with lots of cruising for talent”.

A good degree of rum and Coke went down, we’re told, and “a rather well-built Caribbean gentleman took a shine” to the future first lady of Kiwi politics.

At this point, our source and their colleagues felt obliged to intervene. “We felt she was going to be ravaged,” they say.