Since then, however, the Lib Dems have gone on a determined and unwavering path to becoming the most repulsive manifestation of the demented #FBPE crowd.

First there was “Bollocks to Brexit”, a slogan that had the virtue of being clear but was completely lacking in any wit and intelligence. Educated people swearing to sound outraged or funny can be very effective, but it works about 3% of the time; otherwise it just sounds rude and embarrassing.

Much worse was the party’s inexplicable decision to opt for revoke rather than a second referendum if they won a majority.

Sure, they won’t win a majority, but why say it then and show contempt for the democratic system? A second referendum would be hellish, but the political consequences of simply ignoring the vote would be worse. And then last night Jo Swinson went and suggested that 16-year-olds might be able to vote in any second referendum.

Again, why? Votes for 16-year-olds might be Lib Dem policy — a very bad one — but surely she must see that for a second vote to end this impasse, it must have legitimacy? If a referendum is seen as fixed, by a change to the franchise, the political legitimacy of the system will suffer terribly.

This is before we get into the radical culture wars stuff, such as their madcap gender recognition policy, or the American-style stuff about “six old white men” deciding Brexit, exactly the kind of uncharitable and tedious rhetoric British politics could really do without.

So it’s the Alien v Predator v Terminator election – whoever wins, we lose. Unless no one wins, in which case we lose even more. Which is why, I suppose, I’ll be voting Conservative.

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Ed West’s book Tory Boy is published by Constable

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