Today’s news is: Let’s all be shocked by the blatantly obvious

Story one.

Dear politician, do you think people should knowingly assist others in breaking the law? What, you say ‘no they shouldn’t’? Hold the front page, I’ve got a scoop!

Story two.

Dear politician, might you want to lead your party one day? What, you might!? Hold the front page again. This is an amazing scoop discovering a politician who would fancy leading their party.

Story three.

Dear politician, if there is another hung Parliament, would you take the same approach as you did to the last one? What, you would? OMG! Someone saying they would do the same thing again! Unthinkable! Damn that front page, hold it once again.

If nothing else David Gauke, Vince Cable and Nick Clegg have demonstrated how stating the blindingly obvious often counts as news in the weird world of political reports. Of course all three could have chosen their words differently (especially Vince Cable); they are no novices when it comes to the news.

But next time you bemoan a politician not giving the obvious straight answer to a question, don’t blame them too much. Just look what happens when they do state the obvious.