Sarah Teather MP, speaking on Friday's Any Questions in relation to George Bush's supposed comments (from a source who is not so much dubious as downright unreliable) about being told by God to tackle terror:

People who admit to hearing voices telling them to commit mass murder are generally sectioned.

Ms Teather is the LibDem 'spokesperson' for Community & Local Government.

Either she is merely trotting out LibDem policy - that the removal of the Taliban (to which Bush's supposed comment refers) was an act of 'mass murder'; or she has made a grotesquely offensive and plain stupid remark in search of a cheap laugh.

If the latter, she is not fit to serve on the front bench and should be dismissed from her post immediately. Indeed, others have had the whip removed for arguably less offensive remarks.

But, of course, there has been not a word of condemnation from any Lib Dem, least of all Charles Kennedy - whose failure so to act is in turn damning of his own standards.

If, however, it is the former and the LibDems' official policy is that the invasion of Afghanisatan was an act of mass murder, then the party is no better than Respect.

Not that the two are mutually exclusive of course.