I doubt Ming’s age of 66 was the real reason for his resignationimage asimage Lib Dem party leader, more his lack of oomph or charisma, his inability to connect (my favourite word) with voters.

It was his greyness of character rather than the colour of his hair that let him down, despite these brave words expressing his determination to prove his critics wrong:

“Now when it comes to the next general election, I believe there is some speculation that age will be a factor. You bet it will. Because I’ll make it one.

“Because with age comes experience, and with experience comes judgement. And when you are deciding whether to send our young men and women to war, it pays to have that experience and it pays to have that judgement.”

Take Bruce Forsyth, aged 79, a demon on the dance floor with great wit and personality. He puts many men half his age to shame.