The MPs come in from the cold

Political correspondent Tania Branigan trekked to the Arctic with a team of MPs. Arctic challenge slideshow / More on the trek

Day seven, Kiruna, Sweden: We have just under 30km to cover today - taking a swift turn through Norway at the tri-nation border with Finland and Sweden - to complete our trek. Unfortunately, Nick Clegg's dogs are striking. "I've tried everything - I've shouted, I've cajoled, I've given them psychotherapy..." he complains.

"Lib Dems - can't make the final push," Tobias Ellwood observes helpfully. "They don't know which way they're going," adds Ed Vaizey. "They need the firm smack of Conservative government."

Nick (whom I have maligned - he was third not fourth in the poll of fanciable MPs ) is unfazed. "Number nine, Vaizey. Number nine."

There have been plenty of jibes on the trip, but by and large the MPs have steered clear of political discussions, bar a brief Lib Dem/Labour spat over law and order and Labour/Tory row over bus regulation. And yet...as we hand back our huskies and head back to civilisation, I overhear Tobias Ellwood and Jenny Willott engaged in lengthy discussion on the future of primary care trusts.

BlackBerries are being turned on. Researchers are receiving instructions for the first time in several days. It's almost as if we were never away.
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