The Torygraph diary got hold of a document left abandoned on a Commons photocopier: minutes of the Lib Dems’ strategy meeting for the next general election. Under ”Points from CK” the memo states: “When set piece bids come through for me (i.e. one-to-ones on Question Time, etc) my preference is to face studio audiences outside the metropolis – and avoid Scotland as well. I tend to fare best, I feel, in Northern England venues.”

LibDem HQ’s spin line is that “The memo was drafted by Charles… We are not running scared of London or Scottish audiences. This is simply a question of getting him round the country.” Yeah right.