Guido is four hours into lunch but word is going round that Cable might not be long for this world. Politically that is.

He’s in a meeting with Clegg…

UPDATE: Mr Cable has just walked into Downing Street. Looking as miserable as ever.

UPDATE II: Last tango in Whitehall. Seems Cable held the rose in his lip and bit too deeply.

UPDATE III: Corks popping in Tory circles.

UPDATE IV: Seems the nuclear option bombed… or did it, is he “un-fireable”?

UPDATE V: Grovelling apology at the eleventh hour? It’s chaos… Guido is hearing twenty different rumours, either way Cable is deeply wounded and set to be demoted. BBC says he won’t be waltzing away, not that Nick Robinson’s record at calling things has been up to scratch recently.