This isn't just prevarication: this is M&S prevarication

Top operative at Marks & Spencer spoils boss's big day by threatening to quit. No, no: we're not talking about the FT's confident report today that Kate Bostock, superstar head of clothing, is in talks to join Asos, the online fashion retailer, just as M&S chief executive Marc Bolland is seeking maximum publicity for the opening of his new store in Paris. Rather, it's this story from 2005 that came to mind: The veteran fashion retailer George Davies dramatically walked out of Marks & Spencer yesterday – hours after the store chain unveiled its first good news on trading for two years. In a move that appeared designed to cause maximum embarrassment for M&S chief Stuart Rose, Mr Davies – the founder of Next and the inspiration behind M&S's Per Una range – sent a letter of resignation to Mr Rose just after the latter had announced second-quarter sales figures that defied City expectations. Was it the memory of that distracting Davies drama that persuaded Bostock to walk a verbal tightrope when asked this morning if she's talking to Asos? She said she was "very disappointed" by the story. And that was it. What does Bostock mean? Is she disappointed because the story is wrong? Or is she disappointed because the story is basically correct but its timing is awkward? There are no prizes for correct answers.