That he walked out rather than respect the customs of his hosts was bad mannered but that he should then make an issue of it in the press was extraordinary. Husbands and wives are routinely seated separately at formal sit-down functions for a very good reason and we will all have noticed that at many less ordered events, the women will congregate together as will the men.

On a more positive note his parliamentary expense claim for a pair of reading glasses form Poundland was commendable. Many would question his other claims and they would also ask why he did not buy his own reading glasses out of his salary like anyone else but at the time we were learning of massive extravagances like duck houses and moat cleaning.