It’s hardly headline news that the Liberal Democrats find themselves facing more than two ways at the same time. In fact it’s kind of their USP.

For years, during Labour’s all-too brief period in office, they tacked to its left in the hope of soaking up disillusioned former supporters who couldn’t tolerate the realities of government. And then – oh, irony of ironies! – they went into coalition with the Conservative Party, immediately undoing all that leftist positioning (but, on the other hand, qualifying for Ashcroft money in the process, so, y’know, swings and roundabouts).

The electoral drubbing that had been predicted since the day Nick Clegg and David Cameron exchanged vows in the Downing Street rose garden duly arrived in 2015, with the Lib Dems winning a derisory eight per cent of the popular vote and returning just eight MPs – down from 57 five years earlier.