What a wag is Ivan Lewis, the young-ish, new 14-19 minister. Speaking this week in a Commons debate - moved by Colchester MP Bob Russell about the town’s sixth-form college - he asked the honorable member whether he knew that, as of this week, Colchester zoo had the first artificially-inseminated elephant to give birth in captivity. “I do not know whether the Hon. gentleman is the father, but it is a remarkable, historic moment for the people of Colchester, so I am sure that he will find a way of attaching his name to that great achievement - as Liberal Democrats tend to do from time to time.” Ouch.