When is a political party health spokesman’s policy not his party’s policy? When it is Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb’s “Liberal blueprint for the NHS”, it seems.

Mr Lamb launched his blueprint last Thursday, with the usual press releases and puff from his party’s press office, which included the explanation the blueprint was “not formal party policy” but rather Mr Lamb’s own vision.

On further enquiry the party said this vision would “inform our thinking for the manifesto” yet clearly not necessarily be part of it. Seems even the straight talking Lib Dems cannot resist a bit of political hedging when it comes to health policy.