It looks like a classic political set-up: tell a “friendly” newspaper that Charles Kennedy has been having talks about a possible defection to the Labour Party, writes John Hipwood.

Then invite Liberal Democrats who are unhappy with the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition Government to burn their membership cards and join the biggest progressive party on the Left of UK politics.

Labour leadership candidate Ed Miliband was quick off the mark at the weekend – perhaps too quick – in his invitation to Lib Dems, MPs included, to defect.

“I want Labour to be your home. I want you to come over to us. The door is open. I know there are a lot of Liberal Democrats who are unhappy. I hope they will see Labour as their natural home,” he said.

Well it’s certainly the case that there are plenty of disgruntled Lib Dems around as the Coalition announces policies which they don’t agree with. But why on earth would they want to join a leaderless Labour Party which still has nothing specific to say about where the cuts should fall to reduce the UK’s budget deficit?

“Let’s go and join Labour and then we can all bury our heads in the sand,” isn’t a very attractive rallying cry.

Mr Miliband’s statement was a bit like Mick McCarthy inviting West Bromwich Albion fans to leave the Hawthorns and buy a season ticket at Molineux because the Baggies were having a bad run. Or Roberto di Matteo making a similar request to Wolves fans.

No self-respecting fan of either club would dream of deserting their clubs in such a fashion, and if any Lib Dems do jump ship, Nick Clegg will have to take it on the chin, claim he is sorry to see them go, and whisper “good riddance” beneath his breath.

The Deputy Prime Minister had to wait a nervous 24 hours before Mr Kennedy branded the defection story as “absolute rubbish”.

The former Lib Dem leader, who last month parted with his wife of eight years, Sarah, did it in characteristic style, however, telling a Scottish newspaper that he would “go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket”.

Not just yet, we hope.

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Consider the contrast.

1) Dame Vera Lynn and Battle of Britain veterans raise a glass as thousands watch a Spitfire and a Hurricane fly over London on the 70th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s “never in the field of human conflict” speech in the House of Commons.

The scene was repeated at airfields across the country as, once again, the British people paid their respect to “The Few” who helped decide the fate of the Second World War.

2) Welsh Nationalist MP Jonathan Edwards calls for the Red Arrows to be disbanded because the £8 million-a-year running costs could be better spent elsewhere – like on more subsidies for Wales perhaps.

No matter that the skills learned flying the Hawk trainers (many of them based at RAF Valley in WALES) help make RAF pilots the best in the world or the priceless marvel that people feel when they watch the Red Arrows perform.

What a miserable, impoverished little kingdom the UK would become if people like Mr Edwards ever got their hands on the reins of power.

Give me Dame Vera’s smile and the Royal Air Force anytime.

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Isn’t it just typical of those Australians? They’re always desperate to show the Poms how to do things properly.

Back in May the British people produced an inconclusive general election result. The Conservatives were the clear winners, but not by enough to govern the country without the aforementioned Liberal Democrats.

Now the people of Australia have served up very nearly a dead heat, and Labor premier Julia Gillard is talking to the Greens and some independents from the Outback to try to hang onto power. Opposition Liberal-Nationalist (ie conservative) leader Tony Abbott says he also talking to the independents. Ring any bells?

Australia, where non-voters face a $150 fine, produced the stand-off under the Alternative Vote system, which will be the subject of a referendum in this country next year.

Ashley De from the Electoral Reform Society said that AV had delivered decisive results in each and every Australian seat rather than the “feeble mandates” enjoyed by two thirds of MPs at Westminster.

Yes, but it was still a draw.