Time's up

NICK Clegg's pithy response to the absurd suggestion that he 'knocks off' early from work – "I wish, I wish..." – was typical of the Deputy Prime Minister who has become a hate figure since the Liberal Democrats went into coalition with the Conservatives. It also revealed the depths to which some people, with access to Downing Street's inner workings, will stoop in order to maximise the Sheffield Hallam MP's political discomfort as the spending cuts bite.

For, while the Lib Dem leader's political judgment will continue to divide opinion, he's certainly not work-shy – that is the least of the criticisms which can be levelled against Mr Clegg. A senior politician's life is an invidious one, trying to balance political matters with constituency duties and raising a young family.

And while some civil servants may not like Mr Clegg's deadline for briefing papers to be placed in his red box, there is actually a sound reason behind this. It means that he can read these documents on the train, or at home, long after many of the critical officials in question have "knocked off" for the day.