The nickname “Ming” derives from the traditional Scots pronunciation of his name “MING-iss”, although “MENZ-ees” is the prevalent pronunication in the civilised world (and Australia). When Scots first began to be widely written in the sixteenth century, the letter pronounced most like an English “Y” was, in its written form, virtually indistinguishable from the English letter “Z”. Hence the old name for Shetland being “Zetland” pronounced “yetland” and Menzies being pronounced “Ming-yis”.

He does not drive a Mercedes Bing.

Colleagues will be aware that I have started the process of organising a leadership campaign. I am aware that some colleagues are supporting Ming Campbell – who will make a good leader for the party if he wins.

It will take me some time to talk to colleagues about the process of nomination and I would request that people give me the time to make my pitch before deciding who to nominate.

Simon Hughes has basically admitted he has a problem with his colleagues – they are not keen on him becoming leader. But since this is probably his last chance… Oaten is hinting he will run if Hughes runs, but might let Ming have the coronation if Hughes does not run.

Political punters who put money on Ming being “The Next Leader” are demanding a pay-out on their bets. He is the acting-leader, but nevertheless he is legally the leader of the LibDems and is to be installed in the leader’s office in parliament and will lead the LibDems on Wednesday at PMQs.

Betfair’s rules state “The market will be settled based on the first official announcement of the next Liberal Democrat Party leader.” Guido called Cowley Street LibDem HQ this morning and asked, “Who is the leader of the Liberal Democrat party?” The press office replied that Menzies Campbell was indeed their leader.

Unless the Bookies claim the LibDems are leaderless, then the punters have a good point. Michael Howard signalled he was stepping down six months in advance, a very different situation, Charlie Kennedy actually stepped down as leader and Ming Campbell took his place. Morally, if the parliamentary authorities accept Ming as LibDem leader how can the bookies not follow suit?

UPDATE: Betfair has suspended the market.

UPDATE: “For the avoidance of doubt, this market will be settled on the first official announcement of the next Liberal Democrat leader as selected in the next Liberal Democrat leadership contest.” Betfair moves the goalposts! Well this is not only unsporting, but leaves them with a potential problem if Ming is crowned and a leadership contest is forgone. This could result in the market being out of play for years…

Any way you look at the options, Cameron can only profit from the LibDem disarray. Obviously he is the political cause of Kennedy’s demise, the MPs were prepared to tolerate Charlie’s personal failings, but not his political failings in the face of the Cameron threat. Hence the LibDems self-decapitation strategy.

Ming will be 68 come the election – the LibDems think they can turn this into a strength – did they see the panto Tory Toff outfit he was wearing when he announced he was standing? He will be a joy to caricature. Oaten as leader would potentially bring about Liberal / Tory tactical alliances. Simon Hughes as leader will bring disaffected LibDem voters back to the Tory fold.

As Cameron crunches his cornflakes, he can only laugh at his luck.

So Ming the Briefer, is set to become Emperor Ming, the unelected ruler of the Liberal Democrats. That will be beyond satire.

Will there be a Flash to save us? Oaten? A slaphead who most mothers would feel uneasy seeing near a playground. Hughes, the darling of the backroom boys and beardie-weirdie, sandal wearers. Or John Hemming MP, a man who probably does believe he is Flash – aaaaah – saviour of the universe.

Hemming is an attention seeking nutcase, who claims to have the support of another MP for his leadership bid and is soliciting the required rank and file nominations. He was the only LibDem MP to not sign Kennedy’s formal nomination papers in May, he says because of his concerns. Hard to say how to describe Hemming, but bonkers does spring to mind. Guido will of course be endorsing him (since he is a reader of this blog) and I urge you all to answer his call for volunteers. Email john.hemming@jhc.co.uk.

I hate to tell LibDem Bloggers this, but that T-shirt idea has a flaw and a bad recent precedent…

Rula Lenska, a fellow Big Brother Celebrity, has previous with Galloway from the days of the left-wing Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign. In those days they supported the Communist dictatorship which suppressed the Catholic church, shut down the free press and imprisoned and tortured dissident human rights activists until it was brought down by rebel freedom fighters. In the first free elections that followed, Galloway’s friends the Sandinistas were thrashed.

Galloway has never met a dictator he hasn’t liked, so Big Brother will suit him perfectly. No word as to if it’s true he negotiated an exceptionally high fee through his agents, but its supposed to be for a Palestinian charity which fought a legal battle against the Board of Jewish Deputies.

Many will be pleased to see him imprisoned if only temporarily, over at Harry’s Place, the warmongering lefties are uncontrollable, too high-brow to watch Big Brother, but too seething with hatred to miss Galloway making an idiot of himself. The betting on Big Brother is best blogged over at SpecialBets. Guido can’t bring himself to watch.

UPDATE: His £60,000 fee and his share of the premium phoneline votes money is allegedly going to Interpal. A charity which had a high profile legal battle with the Board of Jewish Deputies. Of course if Gorgeous were to in the future, hypothetically, go on a speaking tour for Interpal it would be perfectly proper for him to claim expenses. Just like he did with the Mariam Appeal, War-on-Want, etc. He only does it for charity.