It is the love that dared not speak its name. I refer, of course, to the sudden passion for the Liberal Democrats that has apparently been beating in Labour hearts. Alastair Campbell and Charles Clarke are among the pro-European, centre-ground politicians who have come out as being among the record number of Lib Dem voters in the European elections.

They were joined by Conservative refuseniks like Michael Heseltine, while even Heidi Allen, interim leader of Change UK, wanted her supporters to back us — quite a change from a party who a month ago was suggesting the Lib Dems should “fold” into them.

So the Lib Dems are back, underlined by our earlier brilliant performance in the local elections. Very occasionally, an issue comes