VINCE CABLE IS BROUGHT INTO A ROOM WHERE MING CAMPBELL, CHARLES KENNEDY AND NICK CLEGG ARE WAITING.
MING
Let us recite the sacred rite of the Liberal Democrats.
ALL 3 TOGETHER.
Proportional representation (A GONG BANGS) income tax increase for education (A GONG BANGS) local solutions for local people (A GONG BANGS)
MING
Vince Cable do you know why you have been brought before the continuing commitee of the Liberal Democrats?
VINCE
You want me to be leader again? With my brilliant incisive knowledge of economics?
CLEGG
No we bloody well do not, you're making us look to good.
VINCE
I beg your pardon, to good?
MING
Aye yes to good. Even as the shadow chancellor for a 3rd rate party, you're making going under Brown and his pet badger Darling look so bad, you may end up winning us the next election.
CLEGG
And we couldn't have that.
VINCE
Why not?
MING
The Liberal Democrats have existed since the dawn of the 1980s as a place for embittered trekkies, geography teachers and other people you wouldn't want leading a scout troop to vote.
CLEGG
Have you read our manifesto?
SOUND OF BOOK BEING FLICKED THROUGH.
VINCE
My God it's blank!
CLEGG
Exept for page 37.
VINCE
That's you in the nudey Clegg.
CLEGG
All part of my plan to become 31 in the bed Clegg.
MING
So all Liberal leaders have had a fatal flaw.
CLEGG
I'm a half pint, Tesco value version of Dave Cameron who bangs on about shagging 30 women.
MING
I'm a bit old.
CLEGG
And you bang on about being in the ruddy Olympics.
VINCE
You slept on a camp bed at the BBC during the Gulf war.
CLEGG
You ming of wee.
MING
Enough already!
VINCE
What's wrong with Charles Kennedy?
CHARLES WAKES UP
CHARLES
What dya mean what's wrong with me? You posh talking swine, I'll cut ya.
VINCE
Now I remember he's a drunk.
MING
No it's because he's ginger.
CHARLES
Aye could you imagine a drunk ginger Prime Minister? I'd have nuked Belgium for looking at me missus.
VINCE
So I've got no choice, I have to commit political suicide?
MING
I'm afraid so, either that or admit we got our last policies off ebay.
VINCE
So how do I make myself look like another unelectable, Lib Dem weirdo?
CHARLES
Oh that's easy, just support that gobshite Brown.