Tory spin doctors have noticed a change in their coalition partners, believing that the LibDems are deliberately dodging tricky interviews. Last week junior minister Esther McVey was put up for an early morning Today mauling over the so called “bedroom tax”, despite being responsible for the disability brief. Last night a PPS to DWP was put up to face Paxman for his standard performance. It wasn’t pretty for Harriet Baldwin, but it was a tough gig. Not having the right figures in front of you is never a good idea though. Watch from 35 minutes in.

JP: Do you know how many single bedroom homes were released last year?

HB: Well of course, what we need to take into account…

JP: Do you know or not? Do you know? Do you know?

HB: I haven’t got that number with me.

JP: It’s 85,000.

So where are all the Ministers? Well mysteriously Steve Webb, a LibDem, refused to go on the air last week and was absent again last night. This could become a running source of tension as the LibDems try to distance themselves from their own actions in government…