The Sopranos is not an obvious starting point when discussing the Liberal Democrats. But a TV programme about mafia, murder and manicotti offers a useful analogy for comparing Ed Davey’s strategy to that of Reform UK. David Chase, the Sopranos creator, recalls once meeting a TV exec who wanted LOP – ‘Least Offensive Programming’, the idea that the more palatable and likeable a character, the more they would be popular with audiences. It is a theory which Davey seems to have taken to heart, donning cricket whites and wetsuits in a bid to appeal to the perceived sensibilities of Middle England.

His party’s policy offering is carefully calibrated not to offend the tastes of such voters. Today’s offering was a classic of the genre.........

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