A very mini LibDem reshuffle this afternoon as Simon Hughes replaces Lord McNally as Minister of State for Justice. Conveniently forgetting the time he said he would not take a government job so he was free to speak his mind. This is what he told HuffPo last year:

“He tells me that one of the reasons he didn’t accept a job in government in the recent reshuffle so that he is free to speak his mind to “any [Lib Dem] minister from Nick downwards”.

In the days after the general election, says Hughes, he had a conversation with Clegg and Cable – the then deputy leader – and the three of them agreed it would be “sensible” for the Lib Dems’ deputy leader to be outside of government, in order to “hold the party together”

Interesting too that Vince Cable resigned as deputy leader when he went into government. Will Hughes do so as well?

UPDATE: He’s gone:

Simon will be standing down as Deputy Leader but will remain in post until his successor has been elected. No timetable set as yet.

— Tim Farron (@timfarron) December 18, 2013

Team Jezza…