Nick Clegg on Heat magazine's Weird Crush shortlist

Oh well, here goes my credibility as a serious writer, but, come on, we've had weeks and weeks of things that have been quite difficult to deal with, from Child Benefit to the Browne Report. In fact, being in Government is quite stressful. I said in May that I'd have five years of watching the news from behind a pillow and so far it has been a bit like that. I remain, despite everything, a supporter of the Coalition, but the "through gritted teeth" comment made by one of Liberal Democrat Voice's survey contributors is not a million miles away from where I feel at this moment. In fact, I think it might have been me who made it. This process was always bound to have its peaks and troughs. As someone who used to be dragged up hills for sport, I can testify that getting to a peak is bloody hard work.

In the meantime, you have to take your comfort where you can get it. Trashy magazines are wrong as a concept, but they aren't illegal and Heat has pretty pictures and quite funny tv listings. And Boyd Hilton, their TV editor, has been very nice about Simon Hughes on Twitter.

That strikes me as a bit of overlong self justification of reading such rubbish, but if I hadn't, I would never have found out that Nick Clegg has for some bizarre reason made it on to their Weird Crush of the Year shortlist. I am not impressed by this. I can deal with David Cameron being on the list, but not Nick, who is taking up a place that could have gone to one of the Top Gear blokes. Nick's not my type, but he is a good looking boy.

Anyway, the winner is decided by a readers' poll. Come on, you know you want to, and if you're a party member, it is kind of your duty:-)