Trapped on the Piccadilly Line, and another Leadership election.

Who would have predicted that after I wrote my last blog on Friday asking if the 'knives were being sharpened', that by Monday Ming would have gone? Listening to the World at One on Radio 4, and hearing quotes from Lib Dem Voice, including, weirdly, my own contribution, I felt that Ming's leadership was not going to be allowed by the media to go away. The sharks had indeed circled once they sensed blood.
Setting off to Westminster for the the Federal Executive meeting, annoyingly, I was stuck on the Piccadilly line for an hour and a half, and walked into the meeting 40 minutes late. Journalists were waiting outside the door, and I noticed that Ming was not there. Within a few minutes, I noticed the change in atmosphere, as notes were passed around, informing us that Ming had resigned. MPs were darting in and out. At 6.25pm, in the middle of discussions about the Party's financial affairs, someone interupted to ask if there was about to be an announcement, at which point we were told officially that Ming had resigned with immediate effect.
I got back from Westminster in time to watch Newsnight, and hear from journalists and commentators eulogising about Ming's 'dignity and statesmanship' and how he'd acted in the interests the Party. The same journalist's who hours before had been whipping up the 'Leadership' issue, and banging on about Ming's age. Surely no modern politician has had to suffer so much discrimination about their age?
Its no secret I didn't support Ming as my first choice as Leader, but I did object to the relentless speculation about his age. I thought he had a rare quality that was perhaps too good for modern politics, that he was a principled, decent and honourable person, and the mostly, Labour and Tory supporting media, couldn't and didn't want to see beyond Ming's age.
(who will forget Steve Bell's ageist cartoon's?)
So, another Leadership election!
We live in interesting times, especially if you belong to the Liberal Democrats.
I'm betting there are plenty of Labour MPs, who wish they could dump their own Leader......