All parties have a tendency to look for nice safe sinecures for their favoured ones for various reasons. It has happened since MPs started getting together and forming parties so there is nothing new in it, when the particular MP is in favour with the media it is heralded with joy, and when not well Ms Kelly is a good example.
The press will alays find a bunch of activists who will either support or oppose depending on the line they wish to take, so no change here either.
I put this one down to press froth on the basis Ms Kelly has got herself some bad press. Keeping the pressure up on MPs like this is the press making the point to MPs to keep their hands of the press ability to publish lies and inuendo without come back, remeber the way they 'fixed up' Tory MPs in the latter days of their administration.