Ex-LibDem deputy leader Malcolm Bruce hasn’t done Alistair Carmichael any favours with his intervention on the Today programme this morning, suggesting the people of Orkney and Shetland should forgive him because all politicians lie:

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Bruce: “If you’re telling me that every MP who hasn’t quite told the truth, or even told a brazen lie [should go], including cabinet ministers, including prime ministers, we’d clear out the House of Commons very fast.”

BBC: “You’re saying that lying in public life is widespread?”

Bruce: “No. Well, yes. I think the answer is lots of people have told lies and you know that to be perfectly true.”

Well that makes it okay then…