I’ve often heard the expression that ‘politics makes strange bedfellows’. Watching Andrew Neil’s political programme when I get home I am astonished to see Tariq Ali telling the nation that he is going to vote Lib Dem to oust a pro-war MP in his constituency and basically recommending everyone else to do same.

As he lives in Highgate this means he says he will be voting to get Barbara Roche out.

So Tariq Ali will be voting for me … !

Albeit a tactical vote, I am obviously delighted – not least because he was an intellectual revolutionary when I was younger – stirring stories of my student days. Memories…