Guido had lunch with a well connected LibDem who confirmed what outsiders already suspect. The two-year election delay means curtains for Ming. Freed from the fear of an imminent election there is a sense of release and a feeling that he can be replaced without electoral backlash – as if it was possible to poll worse.

Obviously the question is how? The party conference was disciplined by the shadow of an election, the annual LibDem MPs gathering has passed. Clearly ill-health would be the best face-saving excuse. The status anxiety of Elspeth is thought to prohibit both the passing to Campbell of the whiskey and revolver or hope of him going voluntarily. So how is it to be done?

Huhne and Clegg are soft campaigning for the succession, but spare some pity for the ambitious Ed Davey. As Ming’s chief-of-staff he can’t do anything that smacks of disloyalty.

There is no fool, like an old fool, if Ming stubbornly resists retiring it could get messy and humiliating. Guido can’t wait…