Is Ming sitting alone in his old XJS Jaguar, finger poised over the ignition? His resignation letter seemed a bit curt. “Right I’m off. Sod the lot of you.”

Who wielded the dagger? Damning with feint praise was the chosen weapon of choice. Two killer quotes from the leadership team might explain why Ming has not spoken to either Hughes or Cable, the GMTV “must do better” from Hughes and the treacherous “under discussion, not under threat” comment from Cable on The World at One made it death-by-media.

Old Vince Cable trying to look solemn last night on Newsnight was a bit of a laugh. If Vince were to succeed in making his current leadership position permanent, most voters would not even notice. They would probably think that whatshisname looked a little different.

Perhaps, they might think, he was now darkening his remaining hair…