NO-ONE will be surprised that the coroner’s verdict on the Liberal Democrat election wipeout singles out that party’s infamous U-turn on tuition fees.

That it “significantly damaged our reputation and credibility” to vote to triple the cost of a university education after their “read my lips” promise not to raise fees is a no-brainer.

Even the excuse that this was a compromise forced on the party by coalition held no water, since Liberal Democrat policy was actually to abolish tuition fees — the pledge at the very least not to raise them was made for the specific eventuality of coalition with either Labour or the Conservatives.