Earlier in the week it was the Staggers that were highlighting their intern-hypocrisy, and now as the Lib Dems head to Birmingham for Clegg’s “return to your constituencies and prepare for government” moment, they too have fallen foul of practising what they preach.

The sandalistas are debating “Proposals for Youth Employment” including:

“c) Introducing a new ‘Paid Internship’ scheme for the twelve months after the 2010 general election, paying anyone undertaking such an internship a ‘training allowance’ of £55 a week (£5 more than Jobseeker’s Allowance); and providing minimum standards for all internships, including reasonable expenses and maximum lengths.”

All very noble, the Lib Dems have long been advocates of paid internships. As ever the reality is much different. In the run up to the election Cowley Street, candidates and MPs are all looking for new staff.  You work for free, which isn’t fair and shows you can’t trust them to live up to their own policies…