David Ward’s campaign to have the whip removed is in full flow. A particularly exasperated source in LibDem HQ tells Guido that Ward is “more stupid than I had realised”, and that “if David has a problem with what was agreed, he knows how to get in touch with the Whips office. It’s clear he is saying different things in private to what he is saying in public. It’s very disappointing that he seems to be refusing to acknowledge his mistake”.

A party spokesman merely says that yesterday’s comments “will form part of the ongoing process” looking at his conduct. Not like the LibDems to avoid a difficult subject…