Nick Clegg is taking soundings. Chris Huhne throwing his hat in the ring has caused a panic. Clegg had calculated that Ming would be leader and the Orange Bookers would have their leadership battle after the next election. Oaten and Huhne throwing their hat in has upset that calculation. The Orange Book modernisers seem to have decided to have the fight now. Clegg has been discretely hitting the phone lines.

Clegg’s Telegraph endorsement this morning makes his bid more credible. Punters have slashed his odds today…