Generations of journalists who trained under local government guru Dave Kett at Highbury College, Portsmouth, will be familiar with the phrase ‘turkeys don't vote for Christmas'.

Mr Kett taught trainee hacks that if they can rely on one thing, it is the politician's gift for self-preservation. A lesser man might quote Machiavelli, or some other sage. Instead, he would astutely remind us that turkeys indeed do not vote for Christmas – and they never will.